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Reptiles & Amphibians of South Dakota

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

7,729
recent observations
47
species listed
47
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 7,729 research-grade observations across the 47 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the Painted Turtle, with 941 recorded sightings.

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in South Dakota

Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
941 observations
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
865 observations
Woodhouse's Toad
Anaxyrus woodhousii
691 observations
Plains Garter Snake
Thamnophis radix
555 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
505 observations
Prairie Rattlesnake
Crotalus viridis
378 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
342 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
308 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
262 observations
Boreal Chorus Frog
Pseudacris maculata
253 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
253 observations
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
224 observations
Great Plains Toad
Anaxyrus cognatus
220 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
192 observations
Western Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma mavortium
168 observations
Western Foxsnake
Pantherophis ramspotti
149 observations
Ornate Box Turtle
Terrapene ornata
140 observations
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
135 observations
Prairie Skink
Plestiodon septentrionalis
109 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
108 observations
Canadian Toad
Anaxyrus hemiophrys
101 observations
Greater Short-horned Lizard
Phrynosoma hernandesi
95 observations
Smooth Greensnake
Opheodrys vernalis
88 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
76 observations
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris blanchardi
73 observations
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
72 observations · iNaturalist
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica
62 observations
Plains Spadefoot
Spea bombifrons
54 observations
Plains Leopard Frog
Lithobates blairi
47 observations
Western Earless Lizard
Holbrookia maculata
40 observations
Six-lined Racerunner
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus
40 observations · iNaturalist
Prairie Lizard
Sceloporus consobrinus
37 observations
Plains Hognose Snake
Heterodon nasicus
30 observations
Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
24 observations
Smooth Softshell
Apalone mutica
20 observations
Western Milksnake
Lampropeltis gentilis
15 observations
Blanding's Turtle
Emydoidea blandingii
12 observations
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum
9 observations
Wood Frog
Lithobates sylvaticus
8 observations
Many-lined Skink
Plestiodon multivirgatus
7 observations
Common Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
6 observations
Lined Snake
Tropidoclonion lineatum
4 observations
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
4 observations
Yellow Mud Turtle
Kinosternon flavescens
3 observations
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
2 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
1 observation
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
1 observation

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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