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Reptiles & Amphibians of San Francisco, California

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

66,825
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 66,825 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Francisco. The most frequently seen is the Western Fence Lizard, with 16,276 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed near San Francisco include California Giant Salamander, California Red-legged Frog, Foothill Yellow-legged Frog and California Tiger Salamander - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

California Giant SalamanderCalifornia Red-legged FrogFoothill Yellow-legged FrogCalifornia Tiger Salamander

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians near San Francisco

Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
16,276 observations
California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps attenuatus
10,173 observations
California Newt
Taricha torosa
4,533 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
4,243 observations
Arboreal Salamander
Aneides lugubris
3,790 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
3,642 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
2,911 observations
Ensatina
Ensatina eschscholtzii
2,849 observations
Southern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria multicarinata
2,457 observations
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
2,260 observations
Rough-skinned Newt
Taricha granulosa
1,339 observations
Western Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus
1,267 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
1,234 observations
Northern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria coerulea
1,215 observations
California Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon ensatus
1,178 observations
Western Skink
Plestiodon skiltonianus
1,104 observations
Common Sharp-tailed Snake
Contia tenuis
899 observations
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
823 observations
Northwestern Pond Turtle
Actinemys marmorata
788 observations
California Red-legged Frog
Rana draytonii
699 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
681 observations
Aquatic Garter Snake
Thamnophis atratus
646 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
386 observations
Northern Rubber Boa
Charina bottae
386 observations
Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
339 observations
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Rana boylii
247 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
131 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
97 observations
Striped Racer
Masticophis lateralis
83 observations
California Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma californiense
18 observations
Coast Night Snake
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus
17 observations
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Dermochelys coriacea
14 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
12 observations
Florida Red-bellied Cooter
Pseudemys nelsoni
12 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
10 observations
Florida Softshell Turtle
Apalone ferox
9 observations
River Cooter
Pseudemys concinna
8 observations
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys olivacea
7 observations
Central Bearded Dragon
Pogona vitticeps
6 observations
Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
6 observations
Mediterranean House Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus
5 observations
Blainville's Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma blainvillii
4 observations
Three-toed Box Turtle
Terrapene triunguis
4 observations
Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictor
3 observations
Peninsular Cooter
Pseudemys peninsularis
3 observations
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica
3 observations
Oriental Fire-bellied Toad
Bombina orientalis
2 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Red-bellied Cooter
Pseudemys rubriventris
2 observations
Red Cornsnake
Pantherophis guttatus
2 observations
Southern Painted Turtle
Chrysemys dorsalis
2 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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