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Reptiles & Amphibians of Iowa

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

21,372
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 21,372 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Iowa. The most frequently seen is the American Toad, with 2,469 recorded sightings.

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in Iowa

American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
2,469 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
2,270 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
1,888 observations
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
1,396 observations
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris blanchardi
1,362 observations
DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
1,310 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
1,280 observations
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
960 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
872 observations
Western Foxsnake
Pantherophis ramspotti
794 observations
Woodhouse's Toad
Anaxyrus woodhousii
721 observations
Plains Garter Snake
Thamnophis radix
694 observations
Boreal Chorus Frog
Pseudacris maculata
524 observations
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
348 observations · iNaturalist
North American Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
346 observations
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
315 observations
Plains Leopard Frog
Lithobates blairi
310 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
264 observations
Western Ratsnake
Pantherophis obsoletus
261 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
232 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
223 observations
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum
215 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
175 observations
Northern Map Turtle
Graptemys geographica
167 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
166 observations
Gray Treefrog
Dryophytes versicolor
147 observations · iNaturalist
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica
140 observations
Prairie Skink
Plestiodon septentrionalis
130 observations
Ornate Box Turtle
Terrapene ornata
128 observations
Six-lined Racerunner
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus
122 observations · iNaturalist
Pickerel Frog
Lithobates palustris
102 observations
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
95 observations
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
94 observations
Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
89 observations
Smooth Greensnake
Opheodrys vernalis
83 observations
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
81 observations
Blanding's Turtle
Emydoidea blandingii
73 observations
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
69 observations
Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
66 observations
Western Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus
52 observations
Eastern Foxsnake
Pantherophis vulpinus
52 observations
Smooth Softshell
Apalone mutica
47 observations
Common Five-lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
45 observations
Lined Snake
Tropidoclonion lineatum
41 observations
Prairie Kingsnake
Lampropeltis calligaster
30 observations
Plains Hognose Snake
Heterodon nasicus
29 observations
Plains Spadefoot
Spea bombifrons
26 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
25 observations
Blue-spotted Salamander
Ambystoma laterale
22 observations
Great Plains Toad
Anaxyrus cognatus
22 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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