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Reptiles & Amphibians of Big Bend National Park

The reptiles & amphibians most often spotted in Big Bend, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

6,610
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 6,610 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Big Bend. The most frequently seen is the Greater Earless Lizard, with 967 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Big Bend include Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake and Southwestern Blackhead Snake - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Eastern Black-tailed RattlesnakeSouthwestern Blackhead Snake

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in Big Bend

Greater Earless Lizard
Cophosaurus texanus
967 observations
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
512 observations
Rusty-rumped Whiptail
Aspidoscelis scalaris
366 observations
Canyon Lizard
Sceloporus merriami
335 observations
Marbled Whiptail
Aspidoscelis marmoratus
287 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
274 observations
Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Crotalus ornatus
237 observations
Red-spotted Toad
Anaxyrus punctatus
227 observations
Crevice Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus poinsettii
223 observations
Big Bend Slider
Trachemys gaigeae
213 observations
Trans-pecos Ratsnake
Bogertophis subocularis
189 observations
Texas Alligator Lizard
Gerrhonotus infernalis
185 observations
Southwestern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus cowlesi
170 observations
Chihuahuan Nightsnake
Hypsiglena jani
152 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
149 observations
Common Checkered Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tesselatus
139 observations
Texas Banded Gecko
Coleonyx brevis
136 observations
Ornate Tree Lizard
Urosaurus ornatus
116 observations
Long-nosed Snake
Rhinocheilus lecontei
112 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
109 observations
Eastern Collared Lizard
Crotaphytus collaris
104 observations
Rio Grande Leopard Frog
Lithobates berlandieri
98 observations
Mediterranean House Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus
92 observations
Common Coachwhip
Masticophis flagellum
90 observations
Couch's Spadefoot
Scaphiopus couchii
78 observations
Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus bimaculosus
76 observations
Texas Toad
Anaxyrus speciosus
75 observations
Black-necked Garter Snake
Thamnophis cyrtopsis
67 observations
Roundtail Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma modestum
64 observations
Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
59 observations
Baird's Ratsnake
Pantherophis bairdi
59 observations
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
55 observations
Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora deserticola
53 observations
Great Plains Ground Snake
Sonora episcopa
45 observations
Canyon Tree Frog
Dryophytes arenicolor
45 observations
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
43 observations
Striped Whipsnake
Masticophis taeniatus
39 observations
Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail
Aspidoscelis exsanguis
39 observations
Glossy Snake
Arizona elegans
38 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
32 observations
Arizona Striped Whiptail
Aspidoscelis arizonae
31 observations · iNaturalist
Mountain Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora grahamiae
30 observations
Texas Lyre Snake
Trimorphodon vilkinsonii
30 observations · iNaturalist
Rock Rattlesnake
Crotalus lepidus
28 observations
Green Treefrog
Dryophytes cinereus
26 observations · iNaturalist
Southwestern Blackhead Snake
Tantilla hobartsmithi
24 observations
Checkered Garter Snake
Thamnophis marcianus
23 observations
Reticulated Gecko
Coleonyx reticulatus
23 observations · iNaturalist
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
23 observations
Great Plains Skink
Plestiodon obsoletus
23 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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