Wildlife and Wildflowers of Texas - Reptiles and Amphibians

American Alligator

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile endemic to the southeastern United States. It is one of two living species in the genus Alligator within the family Alligatoridae; it is larger than the other extant alligator species, the Chinese alligator. ...more ↓

Green Anole

The Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) (US: /əˈnoʊ.li/ ( listen)) is an arboreal lizard found primarily in the southeastern United States and some Caribbean islands. Other common names include the American green anole, American anole, and red-throated anole. It is also sometimes referred to as the American chameleon due to its ability to change ...more ↓

Brown Anole

The brown anole (Anolis sagrei), also known as the Bahaman anole or De la Sagra's Anole, is a lizard native to Cuba and the Bahamas. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, by being sold as a pet lizard, and is now found in Florida and as far north in the United States as southern Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Hawaii, and Southern California. It ...more ↓

Texas Alligator Lizard

The Texas alligator lizard (Gerrhonotus infernalis) is a species of lizard in the subfamily Gerrhonotinae found in the central region of the American state of Texas, and south into Mexico.

Slender Glass Lizard

The slender glass lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) is a legless lizard in the family Anguidae. The species is endemic to the United States. Two subspecies are recognised.

Ornate Tree Lizard

Urosaurus ornatus, commonly known as the ornate tree lizard, is a species of lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The species, which formerly was commonly called simply the "tree lizard", has been used to study physiological changes during the fight-or-flight response as related to stress and aggressive competition. Also, its life ...more ↓

Prairie Lizard

Texas Spiny Lizard

The Texas spiny lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard native to the south central United States, in the states of Texas and Oklahoma, and northeastern Mexico in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí. They are quite common throughout their range, where they can be found in trees or on fences.

Crevice Spiny Lizard

The crevice spiny lizard (Sceloporus poinsettii ) is a species of small, phrynosomatid lizard.

Rose-bellied Lizard

Sceloporus variabilis, commonly known as the rosebelly lizard, is a species of lizard, which is endemic to Central America and North America.

Greater Earless Lizard

The greater earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) is a species of earless lizard endemic to the southwestern United States.

Texas Horned Lizard

The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is one of about 14 North American species of spikey-bodied reptiles called horned lizards. P. cornutum ranges from Colorado and Kansas to northern Mexico (in the Sonoran desert), and from southeastern Arizona to Texas. Also, isolated, introduced populations are found in the Carolinas, Georgia, and northern Florida. Texas ...more ↓

Spot-tailed Earless Lizard

Holbrookia lacerata, commonly known as the spot-tailed earless lizard, is a species of phrynosomatine lizard.

Western Earless Lizard

Holbrookia maculata, commonly known as the lesser earless lizard, is a species of phrynosomatid lizard endemic to the southwestern and central United States and northern Mexico.

Keeled Earless Lizard

Holbrookia propinqua (keeled earless lizard) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard.

Little Brown Skink

Scincella lateralis is a small species of skink found throughout much of the eastern half of the United States, and into northern Mexico.

Common Five-lined Skink

The (American) five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) is a species of lizard endemic to North America. It is one of the most common lizards in the eastern U.S. and one of the seven native species of lizards in Canada.

Southeastern Five-lined Skink

Plestiodon inexpectatus, the southeastern five-lined skink is a common skink in the southeastern United States.

Broad-headed Skink

The broad-headed skink or broadhead skink (Plestiodon laticeps) is species of lizard, endemic to the southeastern United States.

Great Plains Skink

The Great Plains skink (Plestiodon obsoletus) is a species of lizard endemic to North America.

Prairie Skink

The prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis) is a species of skink endemic to the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains in North America. It is one of only five species of lizards that occur in Canada.

Four-lined Skink

The four-lined skink (Plestiodon tetragrammus) is a species of lizard, which is endemic to North America. It is a medium-sized member of the Plestiodon skinks.

Mediterranean House Gecko

The Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) (not to be confused with the Asian species Hemidactylus frenatus known as common house gecko) is a small gecko common to the Mediterranean which has spread to many parts of the world. It is commonly referred to as the Turkish gecko as represented in its Latin name and also as the "Moon Lizard" because it emerges ...more ↓

Texas Banded Gecko

The Texas banded gecko (Coleonyx brevis) is a species of small gecko native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Common Spotted Whiptail

The Texas spotted whiptail (Cnemidophorus gularis or Aspidocelis gularis) is a species of long-tailed lizard native to the southern United States, in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, and northern Mexico in Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, and Veracruz.

Six-lined Racerunner

The six-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) is a species of lizard native to the United States and Mexico.

Smooth Earthsnake

Virginia valeriae, commonly known as the smooth earth snake, is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid snake native to the eastern half of the United States.

Lined Snake

Tropidoclonion is a genus of small colubrid snakes, commonly known as lined snakes, which are endemic to North America. The single species in the genus is Tropidoclonion lineatum. There are currently no recognized subspecies of Tropidoclonion lineatus.

Black-necked Gartersnake

Thamnophis cyrtopsis, the blackneck garter snake, is a species of garter snake of the genus Thamnophis. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico and Guatemala, and can be found in a wide range of different habitats, often near water sources.

Checkered Garter Snake

The checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) is a species of garter snake endemic to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

Western Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis proximus, the western ribbon snake, is a species of garter snake, with several subspecies.

Common Garter Snake

The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a species of natricine snake, which is indigenous to North America and found widely across the continent. Most common garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a black, brown or green background, and their average total length (including tail) is about 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of about 137 cm (54 in). The ...more ↓

Dekay's Brownsnake

Storeria dekayi, commonly known as the brown snake or De Kay's snake, is a small species of colubrid snake.

Red-bellied Snake

Storeria occipitomaculata, commonly known as the redbelly snake, is a species of snake endemic to North America.

Graham's Crayfish Snake

Regina grahamii, commonly known as Graham's crayfish snake, is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic colubrid snake, which is endemic to North America.

Plain-bellied Watersnake

Nerodia erythrogaster, commonly known as the plain-bellied water snake or plainbelly water snake, is a familiar species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake endemic to the United States.

Banded Watersnake

The banded water snake or southern water snake (Nerodia fasciata) is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake endemic to the central and southeastern United States.

Concho Watersnake

Nerodia paucimaculata, commonly known as the Concho water snake, is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous colubrid snake native to Texas in the United States.

Diamondback Watersnake

Nerodia rhombifer, commonly known as the diamondback water snake, is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid endemic to the central United States and northern Mexico. There are three recognized subspecies of N. rhombifer, including the nominotypical subspecies.

Rough Earthsnake

Haldea striatula (formerly Virginia striatula), commonly called the rough earth snake, is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid snake native to the southeastern United States.

North American Racer

Coluber constrictor is a species of nonvenomous, colubrid snake, endemic to North America and Central America. Eleven subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, are recognized, which as a group are commonly referred to as the eastern racers.

Flat-headed Snake

Tantilla gracilis (flathead snake) is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.

Plains Black-headed Snake

The Plains black-headed snake (Tantilla nigriceps) is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.

Ground Snake

The western ground snake (Sonora semiannulata) is a species of small, harmless colubrid snake. The species is endemic to North America. It is sometimes referred to as the common ground snake or variable ground snake as its patterning and coloration can vary widely, even within the same geographic region.

Texas Patch-nosed Snake

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.

Gopher Snake

Pituophis catenifer is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to North America. Six subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies, Pituophis catenifer catenifer, described here. This snake is often mistaken for the prairie rattlesnake but can be easily distinguished from a rattlesnake by the lack of black and white banding on its ...more ↓

Rough Greensnake

Opheodrys aestivus, commonly known as the rough green snake, is a nonvenomous North American colubrid. It is sometimes called grass snake or green grass snake, but these names are more commonly applied to the smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis). The European colubrid called grass snake (Natrix natrix) is unrelated. The rough green snake is ...more ↓

Prairie Kingsnake

Lampropeltis calligaster is a species of kingsnake known commonly as the prairie kingsnake.

Speckled Kingsnake

The speckled kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki) is a nonvenomous species of kingsnake, which is endemic to the United States.

Desert Kingsnake

The desert kingsnake (Lampropeltis splendida) is a species of kingsnake native to Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. It is nonvenomous, colored yellow and black. The desert kingsnake's diet consists of rodents, lizards, and smaller snakes, including rattlesnakes. They normally grow 3–4 feet long but have been known to grow up to 6.8 feet. They are docile creatures when coming face ...more ↓

Eastern Milksnake

Lampropeltis triangulum, commonly known as a milk snake or milksnake, is a species of king snake. There are 24 subspecies of milk snakes. Lampropeltis elapsoides, the scarlet kingsnake, was formerly classified as the subspecies L. t. elapsoides, but is now recognized as a distinct species. The subspecies have strikingly different appearances, and many ...more ↓

Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake

Gyalopion canum, commonly known as the Western hooknose snake, is a species of small colubrid snake endemic to the United States and Mexico. It is sometimes referred to as the Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake because it is commonly found in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Central American Indigo Snake

The Middle American indigo snake (Drymarchon melanurus), also known as the blacktail cribo, is a large, nonvenomous, colubrid snake species found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. In addition to the nominotypical subspecies, it has one recognized subspecies, D. m. erebennus commonly known as the Texas indigo ...more ↓

Baird's Ratsnake

Pantherophis bairdi is a harmless colubrid snake species endemic to the southwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Great Plains Ratsnake

Pantherophis emoryi, commonly known as the Great Plains rat snake, is a species of nonvenomous rat snake native to the central part of the United States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico. It is sometimes considered by hobbyists as subspecies of the corn snake, which is commonly kept as a pet. The two are sometimes interbred ...more ↓

Slowinski's Cornsnake

Slowinski's corn snake (Pantherophis slowinskii ) is a species of nonvenomous snake indigenous to Louisiana, eastern Texas, and Arkansas.

Common Collared Snake

Texas Coralsnake

Micrurus tener is a species of venomous elapid snake. It is a relatively common and widespread snake found in the Southern United States and northeastern and central Mexico. There are four subspecies; the nominal subspecies found in both the US and Mexico is commonly known as the Texas coral snake.

Eastern Copperhead

Agkistrodon contortrix is a species of venomous snake endemic to Eastern North America, a member of the subfamily Crotalinae (pit vipers). The common name for this species is the copperhead. Its behavior may lead to accidental encounters with humans. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Northern Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon piscivorus is a venomous snake, a species of pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States. As an adult, it is large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite. When threatened, it may respond by coiling its body and displaying its fangs. Although its aggression has been ...more ↓

Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake

The western diamondback rattlesnake or Texas diamond-back (Crotalus atrox) is a venomous rattlesnake species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is likely responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities in northern Mexico and the greatest number of snakebites in the U.S. No subspecies is currently recognized.

Timber Rattlesnake

The timber rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake or banded rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), is a species of venomous pit viper endemic to the eastern United States. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States and is second only to its cousins to the west, the prairie rattlesnake, as the most northerly distributed venomous ...more ↓

Western Black-Tailed Rattlesnake

Crotalus molossus is a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Western 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.

Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake

Crotalus molossus is a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Prairie Rattlesnake

Crotalus viridis (Common names: prairie rattlesnake, western rattlesnake, Great Plains rattlesnake, and others) is a venomous pit viper species native to the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. Currently, two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Massasauga

The massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a rattlesnake species found in midwestern North America from southern Ontario to northern Mexico, and parts of the United States in between. Three subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here. As with all rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper (and as with all pit vipers, it is venomous).

Pygmy Rattlesnake

Sistrurus miliarius is a venomous pit viper species found in the southeastern United States. Three subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here.

Texas Blind Snake

Leptotyphlops dulcis is a blind snake species endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Brahminy Blindsnake

Indotyphlops braminus, commonly known as the brahminy blind snake and other names, is a nonvenomous blind snake species found mostly in Africa and Asia, but has been introduced in many other parts of the world. They are completely fossorial (i.e., burrowing) animals, with habits and appearance similar to earthworms, for which they are often mistaken, although close ...more ↓

Smooth Softshell Turtle

The smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica) is a species of softshell turtle of the family Trionychidae. The species is endemic to North America.

Spiny Softshell Turtle

The spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. Both the common name, spiny softshell, and the specific name, spinifera (spine-bearing), refer to the spiny, cone-like projections on the leading edge of the carapace, which are not scutes (scales).

Common Snapping Turtle

The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is a large freshwater turtle of the family Chelydridae. Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada, southwest to the edge of the Rocky Mountains, as far east as Nova Scotia and Florida. This species and the larger alligator snapping turtles are the only Macrochelys species in this family found in North America (though the ...more ↓

Eastern Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States. It is also known as the common musk turtle, eastern musk turtle, or stinkpot due to its ability to release a foul musky odor from scent glands on the edge of its shell, possibly to deter predation. These turtles are grouped in the same ...more ↓

Yellow Mud Turtle

The yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens), also commonly known as the yellow-necked mud turtle, is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to the Central United States and Mexico.

Eastern Mud Turtle

The Eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) or common mud turtle is a common species of turtle endemic to the United States.

Common Box Turtle

The common box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a species of box turtle with six existing subspecies. It is found throughout the eastern United States and Mexico. The box turtle has a distinctive hinged lowered shell (the box) that allows it to completely enclose itself. Its upper jaw is long and curved.

Ornate Box Turtle

Terrapene ornata is a species of North American box turtle sometimes referred to as the western box turtle or ornate box turtle.

Chicken Turtle

The chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) is an uncommon freshwater turtle found in the southeast of the United States. It is in the monotypic genus Deirochelys.

Painted Turtle

The painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) is the most widespread native turtle of North America. It lives in slow-moving fresh waters, from southern Canada to Louisiana and northern Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The turtle is the only species of the genus Chrysemys, which is part of the pond turtle family Emydidae. Fossils show that the painted turtle existed ...more ↓

Common Slider

The pond slider (Trachemys scripta) is a species of common, medium-sized, semiaquatic turtle. There are three subspecies, the most recognizable of which is the red-eared slider (T. s. elegans), which is popular in the pet trade and has been introduced to other parts of the world by people releasing it to the wild. Hatchling and juvenile pond sliders have a green upper ...more ↓

Texas Cooter

The Texas river cooter (Pseudemys texana) is a species of freshwater turtle native to creeks, rivers, and lakes of the US state of Texas. It is found in the river basins of the Colorado, Brazos, Guadalupe, and San Antonio Rivers. It is one of two species of cooter native to the state, the other being the Eastern River Cooter.