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Reptiles & Amphibians of Kentucky

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

95,866
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 95,866 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Kentucky. The most frequently seen is the Common Box Turtle, with 9,819 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Kentucky include Streamside Salamander and Ravine Salamander - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Streamside SalamanderRavine Salamander

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in Kentucky

Common Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina
9,819 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
4,717 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
4,298 observations
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
4,253 observations
Fowler's Toad
Anaxyrus fowleri
3,542 observations
Southern Two-lined Salamander
Eurycea cirrigera
3,415 observations
North American Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
3,186 observations
Northern Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
3,174 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
2,952 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
2,928 observations
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
2,780 observations
Eastern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus undulatus
2,614 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
2,314 observations
Cave Salamander
Eurycea lucifuga
2,190 observations
Common Five-lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
2,040 observations
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris blanchardi
1,966 observations
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
1,832 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
1,801 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
1,782 observations
Southern Leopard Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus
1,781 observations
Spotted Salamander
Ambystoma maculatum
1,766 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
1,761 observations
Long-tailed Salamander
Eurycea longicauda
1,732 observations
Northern Slimy Salamander
Plethodon glutinosus
1,726 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
1,652 observations
Northern Dusky Salamander
Desmognathus fuscus
1,598 observations
Marbled Salamander
Ambystoma opacum
1,586 observations
Northern Zigzag Salamander
Plethodon dorsalis
1,565 observations
Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon cinereus
1,464 observations
Rough Greensnake
Opheodrys aestivus
1,315 observations
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
1,310 observations
DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
1,221 observations
Green Treefrog
Dryophytes cinereus
1,188 observations · iNaturalist
Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigra
1,151 observations
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
1,113 observations
Pickerel Frog
Lithobates palustris
1,092 observations
Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
1,058 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
970 observations
Common Wormsnake
Carphophis amoenus
801 observations
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
762 observations
Wood Frog
Lithobates sylvaticus
761 observations
Red Salamander
Pseudotriton ruber
626 observations
Green Salamander
Aneides aeneus
603 observations
Little Brown Skink
Scincella lateralis
570 observations
Streamside Salamander
Ambystoma barbouri
558 observations
Northern Cricket Frog
Acris crepitans
535 observations
Ravine Salamander
Plethodon richmondi
511 observations
Queensnake
Regina septemvittata
502 observations
Northern Map Turtle
Graptemys geographica
500 observations
Eastern Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
485 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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