Southern California Reptiles and Amphibians
Southern California is a very diverse place. Because of this many reptile and amphibian species live and depend on the various habitats. This is a list of all native and invasive species found in Southern California.
Southern Rubber Boa
Charina umbratica, known commonly as the Southern rubber boa, is a species of snake in the Boidae family. It is found in the United States, in southern California.
Rosy Boa
The Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata) is a snake of the Boidae family, one of only two members of that family native to the United States. The other is the Rubber Boa (Charina bottae). The Rosy Boa is native to the American Southwest, and Baja California and Sonora, Mexico.
Baja California Ratsnake
The Baja California rat snake (Bogertophis rosaliae) is a nonvenomous colubrid snake native to Baja California, Mexico; California; and some islands in the Sea of Cortés.
California Striped Racer
The California Whipsnake, Masticophis lateralis, and also known as the Striped Racer, is a colubrid snake. It is found in habitats of the coast, desert, and foothills of California.
Sharp-tailed Snake
The sharp-tailed snake or sharptail snake (Contia tenuis) is a small, locally common colubrid snake that lives in the western United States.
Regal Ringneck Snake
Diadophis punctatus regalis, commonly known as the regal ringneck snake, is a subspecies of ringneck snake endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
California King Snake
The California kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae) is a nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to the western United States and northern Mexico. It is a relatively small subspecies of the common kingsnake and is naturally found in a wide variety of habitats. One of the most popular snakes in captivity, the California kingsnake can vary widely in appearance due to ...more ↓
San Diego Mountain Kingsnake
The San Diego mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata pulchra) is a subspecies of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Southern California. Its state-level conservation status is "Species of Special Concern"....
Sonoran Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer affinis, commonly known as the Sonoran gopher snake, is a subspecies of nonvenomous colubrid endemic to the southwestern United States. It is one of six recognized subspecies of the gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer.
Great Basin Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer deserticola, commonly known as the Great Basin gopher snake, is a subspecies of nonvenomous colubrid endemic to the western part of the United States and adjacent southwestern Canada.
Long-nosed Snake
The long-nosed snake, Rhinocheilus lecontei, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake, which is endemic to North America. It is the only species in the genus Rhinocheilus, but has four recognized subspecies, though more modern research has cast some doubt on that classification.
Southwestern Blackhead Snake
The southwestern blackhead snake (Tantilla hobartsmithi) is a species of small colubrid snake native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Two-striped Garter Snake
The Two-striped Garter Snake, Thamnophis hammondii, is a species of snake in the Colubridae family.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox, the western diamondback rattlesnake, is a venomous rattlesnake species found in the United States and Mexico. It is likely responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities in northern Mexico and the second-greatest number in the USA after C. adamanteus. No subspecies is currently recognized.
Mojave desert sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes is a venomous pit viper species belonging to the genus Crotalus (rattlesnakes) and found in the desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Colorado Desert Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes laterorepens is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in an area that centers on the Colorado Desert in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. A medium-sized snake, it is found mostly in rocky country, active at night and feeding on small mammals. The coloration is variable and depends on the color of the rocks and soil of the habitat.
Panamint Rattlesnake
Crotalus mitchellii stephensi is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in southern Nevada and adjacent California.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus is a venomous pit viper species found in North America in the western United States, parts of British Columbia, and northwestern Mexico. Seven subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus helleri is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in southwestern California and south into Baja California, Mexico.
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Crotalus ruber is a venomous pit viper species found in southwestern California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus (common names: Mohave rattlesnake,Mojave green,) is a venomous pit viper species found in the deserts of the southwestern United States and central Mexico. It is perhaps best known for its potent neurotoxic venom. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake
Pelamis platura, commonly known as the yellow-bellied sea snake, yellowbelly sea snake, or pelagic sea snake, is a species of sea snake found in tropical oceanic waters around the world. It is the only member of the genus Pelamis.
Brahminy Blind Snake
Ramphotyphlops braminus is a harmless blind snake species found mostly in Africa and Asia, but has been introduced in many other parts of the world. Completely fossorial, they are often mistaken for earthworms, except that they are not segmented. The specific name is a Latinized form of the word Brahmin, which is a caste among Hindus. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Florida Watersnake
The Florida banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris), a subspecies of the banded water snake (southern water snake - Nerodia fasciata), is a nonvenomous natricine colubrid native to the southeastern United States.
Northern Legless Lizard
The California Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra) is a limbless, burrowing lizard often mistaken for a snake.
Desert Collared Lizard
The Great Basin collared lizard, (Crotaphytus bicinctores) is a species of lizard also known as the Desert Collared Lizard or the Mohave Black Collared Lizard. It is very similar to the Common Collared Lizard, Crotaphytus collaris, in shape and size, but it lacks the bright extravagant colors. Males can be brown to orange and some red or pink on the belly. ...more ↓
Baja California Collared Lizard
The Baja California collared lizard (Crotaphytus vestigium) is a large-bodied species of lizard with a broad head, short snout, granular scales, and two distinct black collar markings. The collar markings are separated at the dorsal midline by more than 12 pale scales. It is tan to olive colored with broad dark crossbands on its body. Adults are between 6.9 and 11.2 cm long. ...more ↓
Cope's Leopard Lizard
The Baja California leopard lizard (Gambelia copeii) is a species of lizard. It is between 8 and 14 cm long, and has a smoky grey color and darker grey or black dorsal spots, edged in lighter shade. The dorsal pattern appears mottled or occelated. There are light crossbars on the dorsum, and light grey or white on the venter. It has small granular scales. The large head is ...more ↓
Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard
Gambelia sila, also known as the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, is a blunt nosed lizard found in California.
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
The long-nosed leopard lizard, Gambelia wislizenii, is a relatively large lizard ranging from 3¼ to 5¾ inches (8.2-14.6 cm) snout-vent length (SVL). It has a large head, long nose, and a long round tail that can be longer than its body. It is closely related to the "blunt-nosed leopard lizard" which closely resembles the long-nosed leopard lizard in body proportions, but ...more ↓
Switak's banded gecko
Switak's Banded Gecko (Coleonyx switaki) is a species of gecko that is native to Southern California in the United States and Baja California and Baja California Sur in Mexico. It reaches a length of 5.1–8.6 centimetres (2.0–3.4 in) from snout to vent. The body of C. switaki is covered in round brown spots. Despite its name, Switak's Banded Gecko has a variable ...more ↓
Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko
The Peninsular Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus nocticolus) is a medium sized gecko found in California and Baja California.
Desert Iguana
The desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) is one of the most common lizards of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They also occur on several Gulf of California islands.
Common Chuckwalla
The Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. It inhabits the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Its range extends from Eastern California, Utah, and Nevada south to Baja California and Sonora.
Flat-tailed Horned Lizard
The flat-tail horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) is a reptile of the Sonoran Desert.
Desert Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus magister, also known as the desert spiny lizard, is a reptile of the family Phrynosomatidae, which is native to the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sonoran Desert.
Island Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis becki, commonly known as the island fence lizard, is a subspecies of the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis. The subspecific epithet, becki, is in honor of Rollo Howard Beck, an American ornithologist who collected the first specimens.
San Joaquin Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis biseriatus is a subspecies of the western fence lizard. The common name of S.o. biseriatus is the San Joaquin fence lizard. There are several subspecies of the western fence lizard, all of which are found in the far western part of North America.
Great Basin Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis longipes is a subspecies of the western fence lizard, commonly called the Great Basin fence lizard. Several subspecies of the western fence lizard, a species of phrynosomatid lizard, are found in the far western part of North America.
Coast Range Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis bocourtii is a subspecies of the Western fence lizard. This taxon, S.o. bocourtii, is found in the state of California, from Sonoma County south to Santa Barbara County. This subspecies is in the family Phrynosomatidae, North American spiny lizards An alternative name for this subspecies is Coast Range fence lizard. The subspecific name, ...more ↓
Granite Spiny Lizard
The granite spiny lizard (Sceloporus orcutti) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard. The epithet, orcutti, honors Charles Russell Orcutt (1864-1929) who collected the type specimen in San Diego County, California.
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard
The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (Uma inornata) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard
The Mojave fringe-toed lizard (Uma scoparia), is a species of medium-sized, white or grayish, black-spotted diurnal lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. It is adapted to living in sand dunes in the Mojave Desert. It ranges from Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County in California to extreme western Arizona in La Paz County. The Mojave fringe-toed ...more ↓
