Topsail Beach

Ecosystem Overview

The Topsail Beach ecosystem supports 21 documented wildlife species across 21 taxonomic genera. Located in Pender County, North Carolina, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 5 frequently observed species and 4 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Pender County nearby has 79% more documented species, Topsail Beach offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #2 for species diversity among 2 Pender County County natural areas, placing it in the 0th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 2 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common5 species

Common6 species

Occasional6 species

Rare4 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 2 locations

0th percentile for diversity

vs. Pender County

-79% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 21 total documented species.

Anolis carolinensis

Green anole

Very Common2 obs.

Quiscalus major

Boat-tailed Grackle

Very Common2 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Very Common2 obs.

Gaillardia pulchella

firewheel

Very Common2 obs.

Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finch

Very Common2 obs.

Chrysochus auratus

Dogbane Leaf Beetle

Common1 obs.

Monochamus carolinensis

Carolina Pine Sawyer

Common1 obs.

Bombus griseocollis

Brown-belted Bumblebee

Common1 obs.

Ocypode quadrata

Atlantic ghost crab

Common1 obs.

Arenaeus cribrarius

Speckled Crab

Common1 obs.

Stomolophus meleagris

cannonball jelly

Common1 obs.

Tagelus plebeius

stout tagelus

Occasional1 obs.

Menticirrhus littoralis

Kingfish

Occasional1 obs.

Calidris alba

sanderling

Occasional1 obs.

Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Occasional1 obs.

Borrichia frutescens

sea oxeye

Occasional1 obs.

Coccinella septempunctata

7-spot ladybird

Occasional1 obs.

Donax fossor

Rare1 obs.

Littoraria irrorata

Rare1 obs.

Smilax auriculata

wild bamboo

Rare1 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Topsail Beach. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Topsail Beach. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

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$6.99

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-79%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 1 nearby locations in Pender County County, North Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

Pender County

Importance: 0.39

100 species

-79% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Pender County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-79%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 1 nearby locations in Pender County County, North Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

Pender County

Importance: 0.39

100 species

-79% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 2 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common5 species

Common6 species

Occasional6 species

Rare4 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 2 locations

0th percentile for diversity

vs. Pender County

-79% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 21 total documented species.

Anolis carolinensis

Green anole

Very Common2 obs.

Quiscalus major

Boat-tailed Grackle

Very Common2 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Very Common2 obs.

Gaillardia pulchella

firewheel

Very Common2 obs.

Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finch

Very Common2 obs.

Chrysochus auratus

Dogbane Leaf Beetle

Common1 obs.

Monochamus carolinensis

Carolina Pine Sawyer

Common1 obs.

Bombus griseocollis

Brown-belted Bumblebee

Common1 obs.

Ocypode quadrata

Atlantic ghost crab

Common1 obs.

Arenaeus cribrarius

Speckled Crab

Common1 obs.

Stomolophus meleagris

cannonball jelly

Common1 obs.

Tagelus plebeius

stout tagelus

Occasional1 obs.

Menticirrhus littoralis

Kingfish

Occasional1 obs.

Calidris alba

sanderling

Occasional1 obs.

Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Occasional1 obs.

Borrichia frutescens

sea oxeye

Occasional1 obs.

Coccinella septempunctata

7-spot ladybird

Occasional1 obs.

Donax fossor

Rare1 obs.

Littoraria irrorata

Rare1 obs.

Smilax auriculata

wild bamboo

Rare1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 21 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.