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Reptiles & Amphibians of San Diego, California

The reptiles & amphibians most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

58,042
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 58,042 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the Western Fence Lizard, with 20,832 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed near San Diego include San Diegan Legless Lizard, Green Sea Turtle and Arroyo Toad - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

San Diegan Legless LizardGreen Sea TurtleArroyo Toad

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians near San Diego

Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
20,832 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
5,302 observations
Southern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria multicarinata
4,360 observations
Western Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus
3,185 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
2,309 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
2,237 observations
Orange-throated Whiptail
Aspidoscelis hyperythrus
2,111 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
1,852 observations
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
1,784 observations
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
1,408 observations
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Crotalus ruber
1,299 observations
Southern California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps major
1,024 observations
Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
979 observations
Blainville's Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma blainvillii
958 observations
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
830 observations
Granite Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus orcutti
680 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
679 observations
Western Spadefoot
Spea hammondii
672 observations
Striped Racer
Masticophis lateralis
663 observations
Western Skink
Plestiodon skiltonianus
658 observations
Two-striped Garter Snake
Thamnophis hammondii
425 observations
Coastal Rosy Boa
Lichanura orcutti
328 observations
San Diegan Legless Lizard
Anniella stebbinsi
313 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
306 observations
Moorish Gecko
Tarentola mauritanica
306 observations
Coast Night Snake
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus
246 observations
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
224 observations
African Clawed Frog
Xenopus laevis
206 observations
Mediterranean House Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus
190 observations
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Crotalus pyrrhus
169 observations
Western Threadsnake
Rena humilis
156 observations
Brahminy Blindsnake
Indotyphlops braminus
145 observations
Granite Night Lizard
Xantusia henshawi
144 observations
Western Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis
132 observations
Long-nosed Snake
Rhinocheilus lecontei
118 observations
California Tree Frog
Pseudacris cadaverina
113 observations
Western Black-headed Snake
Tantilla planiceps
88 observations
California Lyresnake
Trimorphodon lyrophanes
80 observations
Western Banded Gecko
Coleonyx variegatus
74 observations
Desert Coachwhip
Masticophis piceus
70 observations · iNaturalist
Gilbert's Skink
Plestiodon gilberti
64 observations
Flat-tailed House Gecko
Hemidactylus platyurus
50 observations · iNaturalist
Baja California Coachwhip
Masticophis fuliginosus
46 observations
Western Glossy Snake
Arizona occidentalis
46 observations
Brown Anole
Anolis sagrei
40 observations
Western Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma mavortium
33 observations
Arboreal Salamander
Aneides lugubris
33 observations
Indo-Pacific House Gecko
Hemidactylus garnotii
26 observations
Arroyo Toad
Anaxyrus californicus
26 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
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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