List of reptiles of Texas
This list of reptiles of Texas includes the
.Texas has a large range of
habitats, from swamps, coastal marshes and pine forests in the east, rocky hills and limestone karst in the center, desert in the south and west, mountains in the far west, and grassland prairie in the north. This vast contrast in biomes makes Texas home to an extremely wide variety of herpetofauna. Its central position in the United States means that species found primarily in either the western or eastern parts of the country often have their ranges meeting in the state. Its proximity to Mexico is such that many species found there and into Central America range as far north as Texas. The abundance of reptiles
makes the state a prime area for research, and most species found in Texas have been well studied.
Texas state law protects several reptile species; threatened species are denoted with a (T) and endangered species are denoted with an (E). The climate of Texas has also led to some species being introduced and establishing a permanent population, denoted with an (I).
Least-concern species | |
Vulnerable species | |
Endangered species | |
Critically endangered
| |
Invasive species |
Crocodilians
Picture | Scientific name | Common name | Family | Conservation status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Family: Alligatoridae (alligators and caimans) | ||||
Alligator mississippiensis
|
American alligator | Alligatoridae | IUCN (LC) |
Lizards
Picture | Scientific name | Common name | Family | Conservation status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Family: Anguidae (anguid and legless lizards) | ||||
Gerrhonotus infernalis | Texas alligator lizard | Anguidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Ophisaurus attenuatus
|
Western slender glass lizard | Anguidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Family: Dactyloidae (anoles) | ||||
Anolis carolinensis | Green anole | Dactyloidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Anolis sagrei
|
Brown anole | Dactyloidae | IUCN (LC) Texas (I) | |
Family: Crotaphytidae (collared and leopard lizards) | ||||
Crotaphytus collaris
|
Eastern collared lizard | Crotaphytidae | ||
Crotaphytus reticulatus | Reticulated collared lizard | Crotaphytidae | IUCN (VU) Texas (T) | |
Gambelia wislizenii
|
Longnose leopard lizard | Crotaphytidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Family: Gekkonidae (geckos) | ||||
Coleonyx brevis
|
Texas banded gecko | Gekkonidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Coleonyx reticulatus
|
Reticulated gecko | Gekkonidae | IUCN (LC) Texas (T) | |
Cyrtopodion scabrum | Rough-tailed gecko | Gekkonidae | IUCN (LC) Texas (I) | |
Hemidactylus frenatus
|
Asian house gecko | Gekkonidae | IUCN (LC) Texas (I) | |
Hemidactylus turcicus
|
Mediterranean gecko | Gekkonidae | IUCN (LC) Texas (I) | |
Family: Iguanidae (iguanas) | ||||
Ctenosaura pectinata | Mexican spinytail iguana | Iguanidae | Texas (I) | |
Family: Phrynosomatidae (earless, sand, horned, and spiny lizards) | ||||
Cophosaurus texanus
|
Greater earless lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Holbrookia lacerata | Northern spot-tailed earless lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (NT) | |
Holbrookia maculata maculata | Great Plains earless lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Holbrookia maculata flavilenta | Chihuahuan earless lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Holbrookia maculata perspicua | Prairie earless lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Holbrookia propinqua | Keeled earless lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Holbrookia subcaudalis | Southern spot-tailed earless lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Phrynosoma cornutum
|
Texas horned lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) Texas (T) | |
Phrynosoma hernandesi | Greater short-horned lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) Texas (T) | |
] | Phrynosoma modestum
|
Roundtail horned lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) |
Sceloporus arenicolus | Dunes sagebrush lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (VU) Texas (T) | |
Sceloporus bimaculosus | Twin-spotted spiny lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Sceloporus consobrinus | Prairie lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Sceloporus cowlesi | Southwestern fence lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Sceloporus cyanogenys | Blue spiny lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Sceloporus grammicus | Mesquite lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Sceloporus merriami annulatus | Big Bend Canyon lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Sceloporus merriami longipunctatus | Presidio Canyon lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Sceloporus merriami | Canyon lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Sceloporus olivaceus
|
Texas spiny lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Sceloporus poinsettii | Crevice spiny lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Sceloporus marmoratus | Rosebelly lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Urosaurus ornatus ornatus | Texas tree lizard | Phrynosomatidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Urosaurus ornatus schmidti | Big Bend tree lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Uta stejnegeri | Eastern side-blotched lizard | Phrynosomatidae | ||
Family: Scincidae (skinks) | ||||
Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis | Southern coal skink | Scincidae
|
||
Plestiodon fasciatus | Five-lined skink | Scincidae
|
||
Plestiodon laticeps | Broadhead skink | Scincidae
|
IUCN (LC) | |
Plestiodon multivirgatus epipleurotus | Variable skink | Scincidae
|
||
Plestiodon obsoletus
|
Great Plains Skink | Scincidae
|
IUCN (LC) | |
Plestiodon septentrionalis obtusirostris
|
Southern prairie skink | Scincidae
|
||
Plestiodon tetragrammus brevilineatus | Short-lined skink | Scincidae
|
||
Plestiodon tetragrammus tetragrammus | Four-lined skink | Scincidae
|
||
Scincella lateralis | Little brown skink | Scincidae
|
IUCN (LC) | |
Family: Teiidae (whiptails) | ||||
Aspidoscelis exsanguis
|
Chihuahuan spotted whiptail | Teiidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Aspidoscelis gularis
|
Texas spotted whiptail | Teiidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Aspidoscelis inornata heptagramma | Little striped whiptail | Teiidae | ||
Aspidoscelis laredoensis
|
Laredo striped whiptail | Teiidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Aspidoscelis marmorata marmorata | Western marbled whiptail | Teiidae | ||
Aspidoscelis marmorata reticuloriens | Eastern marbled whiptail | Teiidae | ||
Aspidoscelis neomexicana
|
New Mexico whiptail | Teiidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Aspidoscelis sexlineata stephensae | Texas yellow-headed racerunner | Teiidae | ||
Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis | Prairie racerunner | Teiidae | ||
Aspidoscelis scalaris | Plateau spotted whiptail | Teiidae | ||
Aspidoscelis tesselata | Checkered whiptail | Teiidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Aspidoscelis uniparens
|
Desert grassland whiptail | Teiidae | IUCN (LC) |
Snakes
Picture | Scientific name | Common name | Family | Conservation status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Family: Typhlopidae (blindsnakes) | ||||
Indotyphlops braminus | Brahminy blindsnake | Typhlopidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Family: Leptotyphlopidae (threadsnakes) | ||||
Rena dissecta
|
New Mexico threadsnake | Leptotyphlopidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Rena dulcis dulcis | Plains threadsnake | Leptotyphlopidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Rena dulcis rubellum | South Texas threadsnake | Leptotyphlopidae | ||
Rena humilis segregus | Trans-Pecos threadsnake | Leptotyphlopidae | ||
Family: Colubridae (colubrids) | ||||
Arizona elegans arenicola | Texas glossy snake | Colubridae | ||
Arizona elegans elegans
|
Kansas glossy snake | Colubridae | ||
Arizona elegans philipi | Painted Desert glossy snake | Colubridae | ||
Bogertophis subocularis
|
Trans-Pecos ratsnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Carphophis vermis | Western wormsnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Cemophora coccinea | Scarletsnake | Colubridae | ||
Cemophora lineri | Texas scarletsnake | Colubridae | Texas (T) | |
Coluber constrictor anthicus | Buttermilk racer | Colubridae | ||
Coluber constrictor etheridgei | Tan racer | Colubridae | ||
Coluber constrictor flaviventris | Eastern yellowbelly racer | Colubridae | ||
Coluber constrictor oaxaca | Mexican racer | Colubridae | ||
Coluber constrictor priapus
|
Southern black racer | Colubridae | ||
Coniophanes imperialis | Black-striped snake | Colubridae | Texas (T) | |
Diadophis punctatus arnyi | Prairie ringneck snake | Colubridae | ||
Diadophis punctatus regalis | Regal ringneck snake | Colubridae | ||
Diadophis punctatus stictogenys | Mississippi ringneck snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Drymarchon corais erebennus
|
Texas indigo snake | Colubridae | Texas (T) | |
Drymobius margaritiferus | Speckled racer | Colubridae | Texas (T) | |
Farancia abacura
|
Red-bellied mud snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Ficimia streckeri | Mexican hooknose snake | Colubridae | ||
Gyalopion canum | Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Haldea striatula
|
Rough earthsnake | Colubridae | ||
Heterodon kennerlyi | Mexican hognose snake | Colubridae | ||
Heterodon nasicus gloydi | Dusty hognose snake | Colubridae | ||
Heterodon nasicus nasicus
|
Western hognose snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Heterodon platirhinos
|
Eastern hognose snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Hypsiglena torquata jani
|
Texas night snake | Colubridae | ||
Lampropeltis alterna
|
Gray-banded kingsnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Lampropeltis calligaster | Prairie kingsnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Lampropeltis holbrooki
|
Speckled kingsnake | Colubridae | ||
Lampropeltis splendida | Desert kingsnake | Colubridae | ||
Lampropeltis annulata | Mexican milksnake | Colubridae | ||
Lampropeltis gentilis | Western milksnake | Colubridae | ||
Leptodeira septentrionalis | Northern cat-eyed snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) Texas (T) | |
Liodytes rigida
|
Gulf swampsnake | Colubridae | ||
Masticophis flagellum flagellum | Eastern coachwhip | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Masticophis flagellum testaceus | Western coachwhip | Colubridae | ||
Masticophis schotti schotti | Schott's whipsnake | Colubridae | ||
Masticophis schotti ruthveni | Ruthven's whipsnake | Colubridae | ||
Masticophis taeniatus girardi | Central Texas whipsnake | Colubridae | ||
Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus | Desert striped whipsnake | Colubridae | ||
Nerodia clarkii | Saltmarsh watersnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Nerodia cyclopion
|
Mississippi green watersnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Nerodia erythrogaster | Plain-bellied watersnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Nerodia fasciata confluens
|
Broad-banded watersnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Nerodia fasciata pictiventris
|
Florida watersnake | Colubridae | Texas (I) | |
Nerodia harteri
|
Brazos watersnake | Colubridae | IUCN (NT) Texas (T) | |
Nerodia paucimaculata | Concho watersnake | Colubridae | IUCN (NT) Texas (T) | |
Nerodia rhombifer | Diamondback watersnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Nerodia sipedon pleuralis | Midland watersnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Opheodrys aestivus | Rough green snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Opheodrys vernalis
|
Smooth green snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) Texas (T) | |
Pantherophis bairdi | Baird's ratsnake | Colubridae | ||
Pantherophis emoryi | Great Plains ratsnake | Colubridae | ||
Pantherophis obsoletus | Western ratsnake | Colubridae | ||
Pantherophis slowinskii | Slowinski's cornsnake | Colubridae | ||
Pituophis catenifer affinis | Sonoran gopher snake | Colubridae | ||
Pituophis catenifer sayi
|
Bull snake | Colubridae | ||
Pituophis ruthveni
|
Louisiana pinesnake | Colubridae | IUCN (EN) Texas (T) | |
Regina grahamii | Graham's crayfish snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus | Texas longnose snake | Colubridae | ||
Salvadora deserticola | Big Bend patch-nose snake | Colubridae | Texas (T) | |
Salvadora grahamiae grahamiae | Mountain patch-nose snake | Colubridae | ||
Salvadora grahamiae lineata | Texas patch-nose snake | Colubridae | ||
Sonora semiannulata
|
Ground snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Storeria dekayi limnetes | Marsh brown snake | Colubridae | ||
Storeria dekayi texana
|
Texas brown snake | Colubridae | ||
Storeria occipitomaculata | Redbelly snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Tantilla atriceps | Mexican blackhead snake | Colubridae | ||
Tantilla cucullata | Big Bend blackhead snake | Colubridae | ||
Tantilla gracilis | Flathead snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Tantilla hobartsmithi | Southwestern blackhead snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Tantilla nigriceps
|
Plains blackhead snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis
|
Blackneck garter snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Thamnophis marcianus
|
Checkered garter snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Thamnophis proximus diabolicus | Arid land ribbon snake | Colubridae | ||
Thamnophis proximus orarius | Gulf Coast ribbon snake | Colubridae | ||
Thamnophis proximus proximus | Western ribbon snake | Colubridae | ||
Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus | Redstripe ribbon snake | Colubridae | ||
Thamnophis radix
|
Plains garter snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Thamnophis sirtalis annectens
|
Texas garter snake | Colubridae | ||
Thamnophis sirtalis dorsalis | New Mexico garter snake | Colubridae | ||
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
|
Common garter snake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Trimorphodon vilkinsonii
|
Texas lyresnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) Texas (T) | |
Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum
|
Texas lined snake | Colubridae | ||
Virginia valeriae
|
Smooth earthsnake | Colubridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Family: Elapidae (elapids) | ||||
Micrurus tener
|
Texas coral snake | Elapidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Family: Viperidae (vipers) | ||||
Agkistrodon contortrix
|
Eastern copperhead | Viperidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Agkistrodon laticinctus | Broad-banded copperhead | Viperidae | ||
Agkistrodon piscivorus | Northern cottonmouth | Viperidae | ||
Crotalus atrox
|
Western diamondback rattlesnake | Viperidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Crotalus horridus
|
Timber rattlesnake | Viperidae | IUCN (LC) Texas (T) | |
Crotalus lepidus klauberi | Banded rock rattlesnake | Viperidae | ||
Crotalus lepidus lepidus
|
Mottled rock rattlesnake | Viperidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Crotalus ornatus
|
Eastern black-tailed rattlesnake | Viperidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Crotalus scutulatus | Mojave rattlesnake | Viperidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Crotalus viridis viridis
|
Prairie rattlesnake | Viperidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Sistrurus tergeminus edwardsii
|
Desert massasauga | Viperidae | ||
Sistrurus tergeminus tergeminus
|
Western massasauga | Viperidae | ||
Sistrurus miliarius streckeri | Western pigmy rattlesnake | Viperidae |
Turtles
Picture | Scientific name | Common name | Family | Conservation status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Family: Cheloniidae (marine turtles) | ||||
Caretta caretta
|
Loggerhead sea turtle | Cheloniidae | IUCN (VU) Texas (T) | |
Chelonia mydas
|
Green turtle | Cheloniidae | IUCN (EN) Texas (T) | |
Eretmochelys imbricata
|
Hawksbill sea turtle | Cheloniidae | IUCN (CR) Texas (E) | |
Lepidochelys kempii
|
Atlantic ridley | Cheloniidae | IUCN (CR) Texas (E) | |
Family: Dermochelidae (leatherback sea turtles) | ||||
Dermochelys coriacea
|
Leatherback sea turtle | Dermochelidae
|
IUCN (VU) Texas (E) | |
Family: Kinosternidae (mud and musk turtles) | ||||
Kinosternon flavescens
|
Yellow mud turtle | Kinosternidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Kinosternon hirtipes murrayi | Rough-footed mud turtle | Kinosternidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis | Mississippi mud turtle | Kinosternidae | ||
Sternotherus carinatus
|
Razorback musk turtle | Kinosternidae | ||
Sternotherus odoratus | Eastern musk turtle | Kinosternidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Family: Emydidae (water and box turtles) | ||||
Chrysemys dorsalis | Southern painted turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Chrysemys picta bellii
|
Western painted turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Deirochelys reticularia
|
Chicken turtle | Emydidae | ||
Graptemys caglei
|
Cagle's map turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (EN) | |
Graptemys ouachitensis
|
Oachita map turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Graptemys sabinensis
|
Sabine map turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii | Mississippi map turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Graptemys versa
|
Texas map turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Malaclemys terrapin
|
Diamondback terrapin | Emydidae | IUCN (VU) | |
Pseudemys concinna concinna
|
Eastern river cooter | Emydidae | ||
Pseudemys gorzugi
|
Rio Grande cooter | Emydidae | IUCN (NT) | |
Pseudemys nelsoni | Florida red-bellied turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Pseudemys texana
|
Texas river cooter | Emydidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Terrapene triunguis | Three-toed box turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (VU) | |
Terrapene ornata luteola
|
Desert box turtle | Emydidae | ||
Terrapene ornata ornata | Ornate box turtle | Emydidae | IUCN (NT) | |
Trachemys gaigeae
|
Big Bend slider | Emydidae | IUCN (VU) | |
Trachemys scripta elegans
|
Red-eared slider | Emydidae | ||
Family: Chelydridae (snapping turtles) | ||||
Chelydra serpentina
|
Common snapping turtle | Chelydridae | IUCN (LC) | |
Macrochelys temminckii
|
Alligator snapping turtle | Chelydridae | IUCN (VU) | |
Family: Trionychidae (softshell turtles) | ||||
Apalone mutica
|
Smooth softshell turtle | Trionychidae | IUCN (LC) | |
Apalone spinifera emoryi
|
Texas spiny softshell turtle | Trionychidae | ||
Apalone spinifera guadalupensis
|
Guadalupe spiny softshell turtle | Trionychidae | ||
Apalone spinifera pallida
|
Pallid spiny softshell turtle | Trionychidae | ||
Family: Testudinidae (gopher tortoises) | ||||
Gopherus berlandieri
|
Texas tortoise | Testudinidae
|
IUCN (LC) Texas (T) |
See also
- List of Texas amphibians
Further reading
- Dixon, James R. 2013. Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas, with Keys, Taxonomic Synopses, Bibliography, and Distribution Maps. 3nd ed. Texas A&M University Press. College Station, Texas. viii, 477 pp. ISBN 1-60344-734-2
- Dixon, James R., John E. Werler, and Michael R. Forstner. 2020. Texas Snakes, A Field Guide, Revised Edition. University of Texas Press. Austin, Texas. xvi, 448 pp. ISBN 978-1-4773-2041-9
- Ernst, Carl H. and Jeffrey E. Lovich. 2009. Turtles of the United States and Canada. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, Maryland. xii, 827 pp. ISBN 0-8018-9121-3
- Ernst, Carl H. and Evelyn M. Ernst. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C. ix, 668 pp. ISBN 1-58834-019-8
- Hibbitts, Troy D. and Toby L. Hibbitts. 2016. Texas Turtles and Crocodilians, A Field Guide. University of Texas Press. Austin. xvi, 257 pp. ISBN 978-1-4773-0777-9
- Hibbitts, Troy D. and Toby J. Hibbitts. 2015. Texas Lizards, A Field Guide. University of Texas Press. Austin. xvi, 333 pp. ISBN 978-0-292-75934-3
- Jones, Lawrence L. C. and Robert E. Lovich. 2009. Lizards of the American Southwest, A Photographic Field Guide. Rio Nuevo Publishers. Tucson, Arizona. 567 pp. ISBN 1-933855-35-5
- Powell, Robert, Roger Conant, and Joseph T. Collins. 2016. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, 4rd ed. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. xiii, 494 pp. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9
- Werler, John E. and James R. Dixon. 2000. Texas Snakes, Identification, Distribution, and Natural History. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas. xv, 437 pp. ISBN 0-292-79130-5