Southern California Herps
Developed by Dr. Glenn R. Stewart (1995)
(Highlighted herps are animals I have
captured and/or studied)
Class Amphibia - Amphibians
Order Caudata (formerly Urodela) - Salamanders
Family Ambystomatidae
Ambystoma
tigrinum - Tiger Salamander
Family Salamandridae
Taricha
torosa - California Newt
Family Plethodontidae
Ensatina
eschscholtzi - Ensatina (Eschscholtz's Salamander)
Batrachoseps
pacificus - Pacific Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps
nigriventris - Black-bellied Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps
simatus - Kern Canyon Slender Salamander (threatened)
Batrachoseps
stebbinsi - Tehachapi Slender Salamander (threatened)
Batrachoseps
aridus - Desert Slender Salamander (endangered)
Aneidis
lugubris - Arboreal Salamader
Order Anura (Salientia) - Toads and Frogs
Family Pelobatidae
Scaphiopus
couchi - Couch Spadefoot
Scaphiopus
hammondi - Western Spadefoot
Family Bufonidae
Bufo
boreas - Western Toad
Bufo
woohousei - Woodhouse Toad
Bufo
cognatus - Great Plains Toad
Bufo
microscaphus - Southwestern Toad
Bufo
punctatus - Red-spotted Toad (Desert Toad)
Bufo
alvarius - Sonoran Desert Toad (Colorado River Toad)
Family Hylidae
Hyla
regilla - Pacific Tree Frog
Hyla
cadaverina - California Tree Frog
Family Ranidae
Rana
aurora - Red-legged Frog
Rana boyli
- Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Rana
muscosa - Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
Rana
yavapaiensis - Lowland Leopard Frog
Rana
catesbeiana - Bullfrog
Family Pipidae
Xenopus
laevis - African Clawed Frog (non-indigenous)
Class Reptilia - Reptiles
Order Testudines (Testudinata) - Turtles
Family Kinosternidae
Kinosternon
sonoriense - Sonoran Mud Turtle (peripheral "edge")
Family Emdidae
Clemmys
marmorata - Western Pond Turtle (protected)
Family Testudinidae
Gopherus
agassizi - Desert Tortoise (protected)
Family Cheloniidae
Chelonia
mydas - Green Turtle (peripheral)
Caretta
caretta - Loggerhead (peripheral)
Family Dermochelyidae
Dermochelys
coriacea - Leatherback (peripheral)
Family Trionychidae
Trionyx
spiniferus - Spiny Softshell (peripheral)
Order Squamata - Lizards and Snakes
Suborder Sauria (Lacertilia) - Lizards
Family Gekkonidae
Coleonyx
variegatus - Banded Gekko
Coleonyx
switaki - Barefoot Gekko "Magic Gekko" (threatened)
Phyllodactylus
xanti - Leaf-toed Gekko (Tuberculate Gekko)
Family Iguanidae
Dipsosaurus
dorsalis - Desert Iguana (Desert Crested Lizard)
Sauromalus
obesus - Chuckwalla
Callisaurus
draconoides - Zebra-tailed Lizard (Gridiron-tailed Lizard)
Uma notata
- Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard (Colorado Desert Sand Lizard)
Uma
inornata - Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard "Coachella Valley Sand
Lizard"
(endangered)
Uma
scoparia - Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Mojave Sand Lizard)
Crotaphytus
insularis - Desert Collared Lizard
Gambelia
wislizeni - Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
Gambelia
silus - Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (endangered)
Sceloporus
magister - Desert spiny Lizard
Sceloporus
orcutti - Granite Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus
occidentalis - Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus
graciosus - Sagebrush Lizard
Uta
stansburiana - Side-blotched Lizard
Urosaurus
graciosus - Long-tailed Brush Lizard
Urosaurus
ornatus - Tree Lizard
Urosaurus
microscutatus - Small-scaled Lizard
Petrosaurus
mearnsi - Banded Rock Lizard
Phrynosoma
coronatum - Coast Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma
platyrhinos - Desert Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma
mcalli - Flat-tailed Horned Lizard
Family Xantusiidae
Xantusia
henshawi - Granite Night Lizard
Xantusia
vigilis - Desert Night Lizard (Yucca Night Lizard)
Xantusia
riversiana - Island Night Lizard (threatened)
Family Scincidae
Eumeces
skiltonianus - Western Skink
Eumeces
gilberti - Gilbert's Skink
Family Teiidae
Cnemidophorus
hyperythrus - Orange-throated Whiptail
Cnemidophorus
tigris - Western Whiptail
Family Anguinidae (Anguidae)
Gerrhonotus
multicarinatus - Southern Alligator Lizard
Gerrhonotus
coeruleus - Northern Alligator Lizard
Anniella
pulchra - California Legless Lizard
Family Helodermatidae
Heloderma
suspectum - Gila Monster (peripheral)
Suborder Serpentes (Ophidia) - Snakes
Family
Leptotyphlopidae
Leptotyphlops
humilis - Western Blind Snake
Family Boidae
Charina
bottae - Rubber Boa (threatened)
Lichanura
trivirgata - Rosy Boa (California Boa)
Family Colubridae
Diadophis
punctatus - Ringneck Snake
Contia
tenius - Sharp-tailed Snake
Phyllorhynchus
decurtatus - Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake
Coluber
constrictor - Racer (Yellow-bellied Racer)
Masticophis
flagellum - Coachwhip (M.f.piceus, Dark Phase Red Coachwhip )
Masticophis
lateralis - Striped Racer (California Striped Whipsnake)
Masticophis
taeniatus - Striped Whipsnake (Desert Stripe Whipsnake)
Salvadora
hexaplexis - Western Patch-nosed Snake
Arizona
elegans - Glossy Snake (click on image below)
Pituophis
melanoleucus - Gopher Snake
Lampropeltis
getulus - Common Kingsnake (California Kingsnake)
Lampropeltis
zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake
Rhinocheilus lecontei - Long-nosed Snake
Thamnophis
sirtalis - Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis
elegans - Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (click on images below)
Thamnophis
artratus - Santa Cruz Garter Snake
Thamnophis
couchi - Sierra Garter Snake
Thamnophis
hammondi - Two-striped Garter Snake
Thamnophis
marcianus - Checkered Garter Snake
Sonora
semiannulata - Western Ground Snake
Chionactis
occipitalis - Western Shovel-nosed Snake
Tantilla
planiceps - California Black-headed Snake
Tantilla
hobartsmithi - Southwestern Black-headed Snake
Trimorphodon
biscutatus - Lyre Snake
Hypsiglena
torquata - Night Snake
Family Hydrophiidae
Pelamis
Platurus - Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (peripheral)
Family Viperidae
Crotalus
atrox - Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Western Diamondback)
Crotalus
ruber - Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Red Rattlesnake)
Crotalus
mitchelli - Speckled Rattlesnake (Mitchell's Rattlesnake)
Crotalus
cerastes - Sidewinder "Horned Rattlesnake" (click on images below)
Crotalus
viridis - Western Rattlesnake
Crotalus
scutulatus - Mojave Rattlesnake (Mojave Green Rattlesnake)
