Reptiles (Details and Classification of Reptiles in the Southwest)

Clade: Sauropsida » Reptiles (Details and Classification of Reptiles in the Southwest)

Reptiles

Reptiles Overview

Reptiles, as most commonly defined, are the animals in the class Reptilia, a paraphyletic grouping comprising all sauropsid amniotes except Aves (birds).

Living reptiles comprise turtles, crocodilians, squamates (lizards and snakes), and rhynchocephalians (tuatara). As of March 2022, the Reptile Database lists the class including approximately 11,700 species.

Below we have the reptiles of the Southwest in several formats so keep scrolling until you see what you are looking for.

For a breakdown of snakes in the area of the southwest and the southwest states, use these resources:

Diversity of Reptiles

Below is a list showing the Species diversity of living reptiles as of 2013.

Crocodilia (aquatic reptiles) = 25 (0.3% of reptile species)
Squamates = 9,193 (96.3% of reptile species)
- Amphisbaenians – 181 (2%)
- Lizards – 5,634 (59%)
- Snakes – 3,378 (35%)
Rhynchocephalia (lizard-like reptiles) = 1 (0.01% of reptile species)
Testudines (Turtles) = 327 (3.4% of reptile species)
TOTAL = 9,546 described species

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Sauropsida
Class: Reptilia

Classification of Reptiles Overview

In our research to share the wildlife of the Southwest, one of the hardest for me personally has been working with the classification of reptiles as some of these “subspecies” can be incredibly confusing.

Some reptiles have more than one common name and we have listed them all in parentheses.

To help me understand, I decided to make a visual tree to see how each genus and species are related. This is for sure a work in progress as we work through each reptile that is found in each state in the Southwestern part of the United States.

Order of Reptiles

The modern-day class of reptiles, reptilia, is normally divided into four different orders (Crocodilia, Rhynchocephalia, Squamata, and Testudines), with each having its own distinct characteristics and morphologies.

Crocodilia (Order)

This ancient order, which includes all modern alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gharials, is mostly large, predatory, semiaquatic reptiles, known as crocodilians and are the closest living relative of birds, and the two groups are the only known survivors of the Archosauria.

The order Crocodilia includes the true crocodiles (family Crocodylidae), the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae), and the gharial and false gharial (family Gavialidae).

Although the term ‘crocodiles’ is sometimes used to refer to all of these, crocodilians is a less ambiguous vernacular term for members of this group.

Rhynchocephalia (Order)

Once incredibly diverse, it has been reduced to only a single living genus is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living species, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) of New Zealand.

Their closest living relatives are lizards and snakes in the order Squamata, with the two orders being grouped together in the superorder Lepidosauria.

Squamata (Order)

Latin squamatus (“scaly, having scales”) is the largest (over 10,900 species) and youngest order of reptiles, comprising lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards), which are collectively known as squamates or scaled reptiles. Many of the smallest reptiles in the world are classified as Squamata members.

Members of the order are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields. They also possess movable quadrate bones, making the possible movement of the upper jaw relative to the neurocranium. This is particularly visible in snakes, which are able to open their mouths very wide to accommodate comparatively large prey.

Among other reptiles, squamates are most closely related to the tuatara, the last surviving member of the once diverse Rhynchocephalia, with both groups being placed in the clade Lepidosauria.

Testudines (Order)

The order of Testudines is comprised of all known turtle species and is characterized by a shell developed mainly from their ribs.

There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles, including land-dwelling tortoises and freshwater terrapins.

They are found on most continents, some islands, and, in the case of sea turtles, much of the ocean.

Like other reptiles, birds, and mammals, they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water.

Genetic evidence typically places them in close relation to crocodilians and birds.

profile of a chuckwalla a large desert-dwelling lizard basking on a rock.

Snakes of the Southwest

Again, while the taxonomy tree helps me, it can be an eyesore to look at so we also have the names of the reptiles found in the southwest in a list form and below are the venomous and non-venomous snakes found in the Southwest.

You can view and sort the columns. The V/NV column is for whether or not the snake is venomous vs non-venomous.

Did we miss one? If so, let us know (it is a work in progress!).

Common Name	Family	Genus	Species	V NV	AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Northern Alligator Lizard	Anguidae	Elgaria	coerulea			CA		NV
Madrean Alligator Lizard	Anguidae	Elgaria	kingii		AZ		NM
Southern Alligator Lizard	Anguidae	Elgaria	multicarinata			CA
Panamint Alligator Lizard	Anguidae	Elgaria	panamintina			CA
Temblor Legless Lizard	Anniellidae	Anniella	alexanderae			CA
Big Spring Legless Lizard	Anniellidae	Anniella	campi			CA
Bakersfield Legless Lizard	Anniellidae	Anniella	grinnelli			CA
Northern Legless Lizard	Anniellidae	Anniella	pulchra			CA
San Diegan Legless Lizard	Anniellidae	Anniella	stebbinsi			CA
Northern Rubber Boa	Boidae	Charina	bottae			CA		NV	UT
Southern Rubber Boa	Boidae	Charina	umbratica			CA
Rosy Boa	Boidae	Lichanura	orcutti		AZ	CA		NV
Three-lined Boa	Boidae	Lichanura	trivirgata		AZ	CA
Jackson's Chameleon	Chamaeleonidae	Chamaeleo	jacksonii			CA
Glossy Snake	Colubridae	Arizona	elegans		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Desert Glossy Snake	Colubridae	Arizona	elegans eburnata		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Baja California Ratsnake	Colubridae	Bogertophis	rosaliae			CA
Variable Sandsnake	Colubridae	Chilomeniscus	stramineus		AZ
Resplendent Desert Shovel-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Chionactis	annulata		AZ	CA
Mohave Shovel-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Chionactis	occipitalis		AZ	CA		NV
Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Chionactis	palarostris		AZ
Sonoran Whipsnake	Colubridae	Coluber	bilineatus		AZ		NM
North American Racer	Colubridae	Coluber	constrictor		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Coachwhip	Colubridae	Coluber	flagellum			CA	NM	NV	UT
Baja California Coachwhip	Colubridae	Coluber	fuliginosus			CA
Striped Racer	Colubridae	Coluber	lateralis			CA
Striped Whipsnake	Colubridae	Coluber	taeniatus		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Forest Sharp-tailed Snake	Colubridae	Contia	longicauda			CA
Common Sharp-tailed Snake	Colubridae	Contia	tenuis			CA
Desert Iguana	Colubridae	Diadophus	dorsalis		AZ	CA		NV	UT
Ring-necked Snake	Colubridae	Diadophus	punctatus		AZ	CA		NV	UT
Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Gyalopion	canum		AZ		NM
Thornscrub Hook-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Gyalopion	quadrangulare		AZ
Mexican Hog-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Heterodon	kennerlyi		AZ		NM
Western Hog-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Heterodon	nasicus
Desert Nightsnake	Colubridae	Hypsiglena	chlorophaea		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Chihuahuan Nightsnake	Colubridae	Hypsiglena	jani		AZ		NM
Coast Nightsnake	Colubridae	Hypsiglena	ochrorhyncha			CA
California Kingsnake	Colubridae	Lampropeltis	californiae		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Western Milksnake	Colubridae	Lampropeltis	gentilis		AZ		NM	NV	UT
Madrean Mountain Kingsnake	Colubridae	Lampropeltis	knoblochi		AZ		NM
Western Black Kingsnake	Colubridae	Lampropeltis	nigrita		AZ
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake	Colubridae	Lampropeltis	pyromelana		AZ		NM	NV	UT
Desert Kingsnake	Colubridae	Lampropeltis	splendida		AZ		NM
California Mountain Kingsnake	Colubridae	Lampropeltis	zonata			CA
Southern Watersnake	Colubridae	Nerodia	fasciata		AZ	CA
Diamond-backed Watersnake	Colubridae	Nerodia	rhombifer			CA
Smooth Greensnake	Colubridae	Opheodrys	vernalis				NM
Brown Vinesnake	Colubridae	Oxybelis	aeneus		AZ
Great Plains Ratsnake	Colubridae	Pantherophis	emoryi				NM		UT
Gophersnake	Colubridae	Pituophis	catenifer		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Long-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Rhinocheilus	lecontei		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Eastern Patch-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Salvadora	grahamiae		AZ
Western Patch-nosed Snake	Colubridae	Salvadora	hexalepis		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Green Ratsnake	Colubridae	Senticolis	triaspis		AZ		NM
Western Groundsnake	Colubridae	Sonora	semiannulata		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Smith's Black-headed Snake	Colubridae	Tantilla	hobartsmithi		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Plains Black-headed Snake	Colubridae	Tantilla	nigriceps		AZ		NM
Western Black-headed Snake	Colubridae	Tantilla	planiceps			CA
Chihuahuan Black-headed Snake	Colubridae	Tantilla	wilcoxi		AZ
Yaqui Black-headed Snake	Colubridae	Tantilla	yaquia		AZ		NM
Aquatic Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	atratus			CA
Sierra Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	couchii			CA		NV
Black-necked Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	cyrtopsis		AZ		NM		UT
Terrestrial Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	elegans		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Mexican Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	eques		AZ		NM	NV
Giant Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	gigas			CA
Two-striped Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	hammondii			CA
Checkered Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	marcianus		AZ	CA	NM
Northwestern Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	ordinoides			CA
Narrow-headed Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	rufipunctatus		AZ		NM
Common Gartersnake	Colubridae	Thamnophis	sirtalis			CA	NM	NV	UT
Sonoran Lyresnake	Colubridae	Trimorphodon	lambda	V	AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
California Lyresnake	Colubridae	Trimorphodon	lyrophanes	V		CA
Great Basin Collared Lizard	Crotaphytidae	Crotaphytus	bicinctores		AZ	CA		NV	UT
Eastern Collared Lizard	Crotaphytidae	Crotaphytus	collaris		AZ		NM		UT
Sonoran Collared Lizard	Crotaphytidae	Crotaphytus	nebrius		AZ
Rough-tailed Gecko	Crotaphytidae	Crotaphytus	scabrum		AZ
Baja California Collared Lizard	Crotaphytidae	Crotaphytus	vestigium			CA
Cope's Leopard Lizard	Crotaphytidae	Gambelia	copeii			CA
Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard	Crotaphytidae	Gambelia	sila			CA
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard	Crotaphytidae	Gambelia	wislizenii		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Yellow-bellied Seasnake	Elapidae	Hydrophis	platurus			CA
Sonoran Coralsnake	Elapidae	Micruroides	euryxanthus		AZ		NM
Switak's Banded Gecko	Eublepharidae	Coleonyx	switaki			CA
Western Banded Gecko	Eublepharidae	Coleonyx	variegatus		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Stump-toed Gecko	Gekkonidae	Gehyra	mutilata			CA
Mediterranean Gecko	Gekkonidae	Hemidactylus	turcicus		AZ	CA	NM	NV
Gila Monster	Helodermatidae	Heloderma	suspectum		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Common Chuckwalla	Iguanidae	Sauromalus	ater		AZ	CA		NV	UT
New Mexico Threadsnake	Leptotyphlopidae	Rena	dissecta		AZ		NM
Western Threadsnake	Leptotyphlopidae	Rena	humilis		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Zebra-tailed Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Callisaurus	draconoides		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Greater Earless Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Cophosaurus	texanus		AZ		NM
Elegant Earless Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Holbrookia	elegans		AZ
Lesser Earless Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Holbrookia	maculata		AZ		NM		UT
Banded Rock Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Petrosaurus	mearnsi			CA
Blainville's Horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	blainvillii			CA
Texas Horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	cornutum		AZ		NM
Pygmy Short-horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	douglasii			CA		NV
Goode's Horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	goodei		AZ
Greater Short-horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	hernandesi		AZ		NM	NV	UT
Flat-tailed Horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	mcallii		AZ	CA
Round-tailed Horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	modestum		AZ		NM
Desert Horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	platyrhinos		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Regal Horned Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Phrynosoma	solare		AZ		NM
Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	bimaculosus		AZ		NM
Clark's Spiny Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	clarkii		AZ		NM
Southwestern Fence Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	cowlesi		AZ		NM
Common Sagebrush Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	graciosus		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Yarrow's Spiny Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	jarrovii		AZ		NM
Desert Spiny Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	magister		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Western Fence Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	occidentalis			CA		NV	UT
Granite Spiny Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	orcutti			CA
Slevin's Bunchgrass Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	slevini		AZ		NM
Plateau Fence Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	tristichus		AZ		NM		UT
Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	uniformis		AZ	CA		NV	UT
Striped Plateau Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Sceloporus	virgatus		AZ		NM
Coachella Fringe-toed Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Uma	inornata			CA
Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Uma	notata			CA
Yuman Desert Fringe-toed Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Uma	rufopunctata		AZ
Mohave Fringe-toed Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Uma	scoparia		AZ	CA
a fringe-toed lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Uma	thurmanae		AZ
Long-tailed Brush Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Urosaurus	graciosus		AZ	CA		NV	UT
Small-scaled Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Urosaurus	microscutatus			CA
Ornate Tree Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Urosaurus	ornatus		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Common Side-blotched Lizard	Phrynosomatidae	Uta	stansburiana		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Leaf-toed Gecko	Phyllodactylidae	Phyllodactylus	nocticolus			CA
Saddled Leaf-nosed Snake	Phyllodactylidae	Phyllorhynchus	browni		AZ
Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake	Phyllodactylidae	Phyllorhynchus	decurtatus		AZ	CA		NV	UT
Moorish Wall Gecko	Phyllodactylidae	Tarentola	mauritanica			CA
Ocellated Skink	Scincidae	Chalcides	ocellatus		AZ
Mountain Skink	Scincidae	Plestiodon	callicephalus		AZ		NM
Gilbert's Skink	Scincidae	Plestiodon	gilberti		AZ	CA		NV
Many-lined Skink	Scincidae	Plestiodon	multivirgatus		AZ		NM		UT
Great Plains Skink	Scincidae	Plestiodon	obsoletus		AZ		NM
Western Skink	Scincidae	Plestiodon	skiltonianus		AZ	CA		NV
Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	exsanguis		AZ		NM
Orange-throated Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	hyperythra			CA
New Mexico Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	neomexicana		AZ		NM		UT
Sonoran Spotted Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	sonorae		AZ		NM
Giant Spotted Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	stictogramma		AZ		NM
Tiger Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	tigris		AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Desert Grassland Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	uniparens		AZ		NM
Plateau Striped Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	velox		AZ		NM		UT
Red-backed Whiptail	Teiidae	Aspidoscelis	xanthonota		AZ
Brahminy Blindsnake	Typhlopidae	Indotyphlops	braminus		AZ
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	atrox	V	AZ	CA	NM	NV
Sidewinder	Viperidae	Crotalus	cerastes	V	AZ	CA		NV	UT
Mojave Desert Sidewinder	Viperidae	Crotalus	cerastes cerastes	V
Sonoran Desert Sidewinder	Viperidae	Crotalus	cerastes cercobombus	V
Colorado Desert Sidewinder	Viperidae	Crotalus	cerastes laterorepens	V
Arizona Black Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	cerberus	V	AZ		NM
Midget Faded Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	concur
Rock Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	lepidus	V	AZ		NM
Banded Rock Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	lepidus klauberi
Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	molossus	V	AZ		NM
Western Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	oreganus	V	AZ	CA		NV	UT
Twin-spotted Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	pricei	V	AZ
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	pyrrhus	V	AZ	CA		NV	UT
Red Diamond Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	ruber	V		CA
Mohave Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	scutulatus	V	AZ	CA	NM	NV	UT
Panamint Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	stephensi	V		CA		NV
Tiger Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	tigris	V	AZ
Prairie Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	viridis	V	AZ		NM		UT
Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake	Viperidae	Crotalus	willardi	V	AZ		NM
Western Massasauga	Viperidae	Sistrurus	tergeminus		AZ		NM
Arizona Night Lizard	Xantusiidae	Xantusia	arizonae		AZ
Bezy's Night Lizard	Xantusiidae	Xantusia	bezyi		AZ
Sandstone Night Lizard	Xantusiidae	Xantusia	gracilis			CA
Granite Night Lizard	Xantusiidae	Xantusia	henshawi			CA
Island Night Lizard	Xantusiidae	Xantusia	riversiana			CA
Sierra Night Lizard	Xantusiidae	Xantusia	sierrae			CA
Desert Night Lizard	Xantusiidae	Xantusia	vigilis		AZ	CA		NV	UT
Wiggins' Night Lizard	Xantusiidae	Xantusia	wigginsi			CA
Western Pond Turtle		Actinemys	marmorata
Spiny Softshell		Apalone	spinifera
Painted Turtle		Chrysemys	picta
Mojave Desert Tortoise		Gopherus	agassizii
Sonoran Mud Turtle		Kinosternon	sonoriense
Common Box Turtle		Terrapene	carolina

Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, Crotalus Mitchelli Pyrrus

Taxonomy Tree to Classify Reptiles

Below are the family, genus, and species belonging to the Order Squamata.

We placed it in a “tree format” for you to see how each is related.

Family: Boidae [Boas]
- Genus: Lichanura (Rosy Boa)
  - Species: orcutti (Coastal Rosy Boa or Northern Three-Lined Boa)
  - Species: trivirgata (Desert Rosy Boa)
Family: Colubridae
- Genus: Arizona (Glossy Snake)
  - Species: elegans (Glossy Snake)
    - Subspecies: eburnata (Desert Glossy Snake)
- Genus: Heterodon (hognose snake, sand viper, hog-nosed snake, North American hog-nosed snake, and sometimes puff adder)
  - Species: nasicus (Western Hognose Snake)
- Genus: Hypsiglena (Night Snake)
  - Species: jani (Texas Night Snake aka Chihuahuan Night Snake)
  - Species: ochrorhynchus (Spotted Night Snake)
    - Subspecies: nuchalata (California Night Snake)
  - Species: torquata (Night Snake)
- Genus: Lampropeltis (Kingsnake)
  - Species: californiae (California Kingsnake)
  - Species: getula (Eastern Kingsnake, Common Kingsnake, and Chain Kingsnake)
  - Species: pyromelana (Arizona Mountain Kingsnake aka Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake)
  - Species: splendida (Desert Kingsnake)
  - Species: triangulum (Milksnake)
- Genus: Masticophis (Whipsnake)
  - Species: flagellum (Coachwhip aka Whipsnake)
  - Species: lateralis (California Whipsnake)
    - Subspecies: euryxanthus (Alameda Whipsnake aka Alameda Racer)
  - Species: taeniatus (Striped Whipsnake)
    - Subspecies: teniatus (Desert Striped Whipsnake)
- Genus: Oxybelis (Vine Snake)
  - Species: aenus (Mexican Vine Snake or brown vine snake)
- Genus: Phyllorhyncus (Leafnose Snake)
  - Species: browni (Saddled Leafnose Snake)
  - Species: decurtatus (Spotted Leafnose Snake)
- Genus: Pituophis (gopher snakes, pine snakes, and bullsnakes)
  - Species: catenifer (Gopher Snake)
    - Subspecies: affinis (Sonoran Gopher Snake)
- Genus: Rhinocheilus (Long-nose Snake)
  - Species: lecontei (Arizona Long-nosed Snake)
- Genus: Salvadora (Patch-nosed Snake)
  - Species: hexalepis (Western Patch-nosed Snake)
- Genus: Sonora (Ground Snake)
  - Species: semiannulata (Western Ground Snake)
- Genus: Tantilla (centipede snakes, blackhead snakes, and flathead snakes)
  - Species: hobartsmithi (Southwestern Blackhead Snake, Smith’s blackhead snake, or Smith’s black-headed snake)
- Genus: Thamnophis (Garter Snake)
  - Species: couchii (Sierra Garter Snake)
  - Species: cyrtopsis (Blackneck Garter Snake)
  - Species: elegans (Wandering Garter Snake)
  - Species: eques (Mexican Garter Snake)
  - Species: marcianus (Checkered Garter Snake)
  - Species: sirtalis (Common Garter Snake)
    - Subspecies: infernalis (California Red-Sided Garter Snake)
- Genus: Trimorphodon (Lyre Snake)
Family: Elapidae
- Genus: Micruroides (Coral Snake)
  - Species: euryxanthus (Sonoran Coral Snake, Western Coral Snake, Arizona Coral Snake)
Family: Helodermatidae (beaded lizard)
- Genus: Heloderma (toxicoferan lizards)
  - Species: suspectus (Gila Monster)
Family: Iguanidae
- Genus: Aspidoscelis
  - Species: tigris: Western Whiptail
    - Subspecies: tigris tigris: Great Basin Whiptail Lizard
- Genus: Callisaurus
  - Species: draconoides: Zebra-tailed Lizard
- Genus: Coleonyx
  - Species: variegatus: Western Banded Gecko
- Genus: Crotaphytus
  - Species: bicinctores: Desert Collared Lizard
- Genus: Dipsosaurus
  - Species: dorsalis: Desert Iguana
- Genus: Gamelia
  - Species: wislizenii: Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
- Genus: Heloderma
  - Species: Heloderma suspectum Gila Monster
- Genus: Hemidactylus
  - Species: turcicus: Mediterranean House Gecko
- Genus: Phrynosoma
  - Species: platyrhinos: Desert Horned Lizard
- Genus: Sauromalus (Chuckwalla)
  - Species: ater: Common Chuckwalla
Family: Phrynosomatidae
- Genus: Sceloporus
  - Species: graciosus: Common Sagebrush Lizard
  - Species: occidentalis: Western Fence Lizard
  - Species: uniformis: Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard
- Genus: Phrynosoma
  - Species: douglasii: Pygmy Short-horned Lizard
  - Species: hernandesi: Greater Short-horned Lizard
- Genus: Urosaurus
  - Species: graciosus: Long-tailed Brush Lizard
  - Species: ornatus: Ornate Tree Lizard
- Genus: Uma
  - Species: scoparia: Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard
- Genus: Uta
  - Species: stansburiana – Common Side-blotched Lizard
Family: Scincidae [Skinks]
- Genus: Plestiodon
  - Species: gilberti – Gilbert’s Skink
  - Species: skiltonianus – Western Skink
Family: Viperidae
- Genus: Crotalus [Rattlesnake]
  - Species: atrox – Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
  - Species: cerastes (Sidewinder, Horned Rattlesnake, or Sidewinder Rattlesnake)
    - Subspecies: cerastes (Mojave Desert Sidewinder)
    - Subspecies: cercobombus (Sonoran Desert Sidewinder)
    - Subspecies: laterorepens (Colorado Desert Sidewinder)
  - Species: cerberus: (Arizona Black Rattlesnake aka Black Rattlesnake)
  - Species: concur – Midget Faded Rattlesnake, Faded Rattlesnake, and Yellow Rattlesnake
  - Species: helleri – South Pacific Rattlesnake
  - Species: lepidus (Blue Rattlesnake, Eastern Rock Rattlesnake, Green Rattlesnake, Little Green Rattlesnake, Pink Rattlesnake, Rock Rattlesnake, Texas Rock Rattlesnake, and White Rattlesnake)
    - Subspecies: klauberi (Banded Rock Rattlesnake)
  - Species: Lutosus – Great Basin Rattlesnake
  - Species: mitchellii (Speckled Rattlesnake)
  - Species: molossus (Black-tailed Rattlesnake)
  - Species: oreganus (Northern Pacific Rattlesnake)
    - Subspecies: abyssus (Grand Canyon Rattlesnake)
  - Species: pricei (twin-spotted rattlesnake, western twin-spotted rattlesnake, Price’s rattlesnake, Arizona spotted rattlesnake, spotted rattlesnake, and Arizona twin-spotted rattlesnake)
  - Species: pyrrhus (Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake)
  - Species: scutulatus (Mojave Green Rattlesnake)
  - Species: stephensii (Panamint Rattlesnake)
  - Species: viridis (Prairie Rattlesnake)
    - Subspecies: nuntius (Hopi Rattlesnake, Arizona prairie rattlesnake)
  - Species: willardi (Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake, Willard’s rattlesnake, Willard’s rattler)
    - Subspecies: obscurus (New Mexico Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake)
    - Subspecies: willardi (Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake)
- Genus: Gyalopion (Hooknose Snake)
  - Species: Canum (Western Hooknose Snake)
Family: Xantusiidae
- Genus: Xantusia
  - Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis)

Reptile Trivia

Did you know that October 21st is National Reptile Awareness Day?
All reptiles have scales.
Reptiles are 350 million years old.
Tortoises are the longest-living reptiles.
Some reptiles can change color.
Reptiles do not sweat.
The Arizona State Reptile is the Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi).
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous.
Snakes do not have eyelids, instead, they protect their eyes with a pair of modified scales called eye caps.

Reptiles in Nevada

More than 52 registered species of reptiles live in Nevada, where 12 are considered venomous and an additional 6 are considered dangerous. [We have almost 60 listed below for our list located in Nevada.]

Venomous species of snakes include the sidewinder, western diamondback, and Great Basin rattlesnakes.

41 species of reptiles and 12 species of amphibians have been recorded at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

All reptiles and amphibians in the recreation area hibernate during the colder months of the year, usually from November through February.

Other species of reptiles include the venomous Gila monster, northern desert horned lizard, sagebrush lizard, leopard lizard, western fence lizard, short-horned lizard, and the Nevadan official state reptile: the threatened desert tortoise.

Related article >> Snakes in Nevada

The desert tortoise, which can live up to seventy years, is found in southwestern Nevada and is the largest reptile in the southwestern United States.

In parts of the state, the population has decreased thirty to fifty percent due to predation, disease, vandalism, and illegal collection by humans.