Charleston

Ecosystem Overview

The Charleston ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 92 taxonomic genera. Located in South Carolina, this area provides critical habitat for regional wildlife. The location hosts 21 frequently observed species and 19 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. This location ranks #11 for species diversity among 173 South Carolina natural areas, placing it in the 94th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

100

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#11

Regional Rank

Out of 173 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#11 of 173 locations

94th percentile for diversity

vs. South Carolina

0% 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 100 total documented species.

Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican (Southern)

Very Common8 obs.

Nycticorax nycticorax

night heron, black-crowned night heron

Very Common8 obs.

Quiscalus major

Boat-tailed Grackle

Very Common7 obs.

Tillandsia usneoides

Spanish Moss

Very Common7 obs.

Tursiops erebennus

Very Common7 obs.

Anolis carolinensis

Green anole

Common6 obs.

Buteo lineatus

Red-Shouldered/Broad-Winged Hawk

Common6 obs.

Argiope aurantia

Yellow Garden Spider

Common6 obs.

Borrichia frutescens

sea oxeye

Common6 obs.

Leucophaeus atricilla

Laughing Gull

Common6 obs.

Quercus virginiana

Southern Live Oak

Common6 obs.

Armases cinereum

squareback marsh crab

Occasional5 obs.

Urbanus proteus

Long-tailed Skipper

Occasional5 obs.

Tillandsia recurvata

Small ballmoss

Occasional5 obs.

Pleopeltis michauxiana

Occasional4 obs.

Passerina ciris

Painted Bunting

Occasional4 obs.

Soliva sessilis

Field burrweed

Occasional4 obs.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Virginia-creeper

Rare4 obs.

Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead

Rare4 obs.

Pachodynerus erynnis

Rare4 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

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

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+72%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in South Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

South Carolina

Importance: 0.64

100 species

0% vs. current

Columbia

Importance: 0.54

100 species

0% vs. current

Greenville

Importance: 0.50

100 species

0% vs. current

Spartanburg

Importance: 0.49

4 species

+2400% vs. current

Myrtle Beach

Importance: 0.47

100 species

0% vs. current

Sumter

Importance: 0.44

20 species

+400% vs. current

Clemson

Importance: 0.44

6 species

+1567% vs. current

Rock Hill

Importance: 0.44

35 species

+186% 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 South Carolina.

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

100

Species Count

+72%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in South Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

South Carolina

Importance: 0.64

100 species

0% vs. current

Columbia

Importance: 0.54

100 species

0% vs. current

Greenville

Importance: 0.50

100 species

0% vs. current

Spartanburg

Importance: 0.49

4 species

+2400% vs. current

Myrtle Beach

Importance: 0.47

100 species

0% vs. current

Sumter

Importance: 0.44

20 species

+400% vs. current

Clemson

Importance: 0.44

6 species

+1567% vs. current

Rock Hill

Importance: 0.44

35 species

+186% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

100

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#11

Regional Rank

Out of 173 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#11 of 173 locations

94th percentile for diversity

vs. South Carolina

0% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 100 total documented species.

Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican (Southern)

Very Common8 obs.

Nycticorax nycticorax

night heron, black-crowned night heron

Very Common8 obs.

Quiscalus major

Boat-tailed Grackle

Very Common7 obs.

Tillandsia usneoides

Spanish Moss

Very Common7 obs.

Tursiops erebennus

Very Common7 obs.

Anolis carolinensis

Green anole

Common6 obs.

Buteo lineatus

Red-Shouldered/Broad-Winged Hawk

Common6 obs.

Argiope aurantia

Yellow Garden Spider

Common6 obs.

Borrichia frutescens

sea oxeye

Common6 obs.

Leucophaeus atricilla

Laughing Gull

Common6 obs.

Quercus virginiana

Southern Live Oak

Common6 obs.

Armases cinereum

squareback marsh crab

Occasional5 obs.

Urbanus proteus

Long-tailed Skipper

Occasional5 obs.

Tillandsia recurvata

Small ballmoss

Occasional5 obs.

Pleopeltis michauxiana

Occasional4 obs.

Passerina ciris

Painted Bunting

Occasional4 obs.

Soliva sessilis

Field burrweed

Occasional4 obs.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Virginia-creeper

Rare4 obs.

Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead

Rare4 obs.

Pachodynerus erynnis

Rare4 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 100 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.