Explore Death Valley's Wildlife

Death Valley Pupfish

The Death Valley pupfish, is a species of fish that is the last known survivor of what is thought to have been a large ecosystem of fish species that lived in Lake Manly which dried up at the end of the last ice age leaving the present day Death Valley in California. The pupfish is adapted to the shallow, hot, salty water of a particular part of Salt Creek that flows above ground year-round, and is also sometimes referred to as Salt Creek Pupfish. A subspecies lives in nearby Cottonwood Marsh.

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Desert Bighorn Sheep

Death Valley's largest mammals are desert bighorn sheep. Small herds of sheep are most commonly found in the mountains surrounding Death Valley but at least occasionally visit the valley floor. Look for these animals near the springs and seeps that can be found throughout the park.

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