List of reptiles of Pennsylvania

Last updated

This is a list of reptiles of Pennsylvania as listed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. [1] As of 2024, there are 38 native reptiles in Pennsylvania. The species are listed as in the PFBC list, with the exception of introduced species, which are derived from other sources. Notes on ranges provided by Pennsylvania Amphibian & Reptile Survey. [2]

Contents

Testudines - turtles and tortoises

Family: Chelydridae - snapping turtles

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Chelydra serpentina Snapping Turtle (34974955286).jpg Common snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina
(Linnaeus, 1758)
AbundantStatewide

Family: Emydidae - pond turtles

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) (17098808466).jpg Midland painted turtle Chrysemys picta marginata
Agassiz, 1857
AbundantSubspecies of widespread painted turtle Statewide, but primarily west of the Appalachians
Eastern painted turtle (6991514071).jpg Eastern painted turtle Chrysemys picta picta
(Schneider, 1783)
Abundant Subspecies of widespread painted turtlePrimarily east of the Appalachians
Spotted turtle violette's lock, mckee-beshers 5.26.19 DSC 0624.jpg Spotted turtle Clemmys guttata
(Schneider, 1792)
Species of special concernMuch of the west, as well as some of the counties in the northwest and Westmoreland County in the southwest
Furry & Turtley Friday (3029710624).jpg Wood turtle Glyptemys insculpta
(Le Conte, 1830)
Species of special concernStatewide, but rarer to the west
Bog turtle (18553965520).jpg Bog turtle Glyptemys muhlenbergii
(Schoepff, 1801)
EndangeredSoutheastern counties [n 1]
Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) (17627218630).jpg Blanding's turtle Emydoidea blandingii
(Holbrook, 1838)
Candidate species Erie County
Northern Map Turtle at Burr Oak State Park.jpg Northern map turtle Graptemys geographica
(Lesueur, 1817)
AbundantStatewide, except in Allegheny National Forest and northern central counties
Northern false map turtle (Graptemys p. pseudogeographica).jpg False map turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica
(Gray, 1831)
Not evaluatedSeveral observations on the citizen science website iNaturalist, also a 1911 record in the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History [4] Primarily around the Delaware River, also seen near Pittsburgh [4]
Northern diamondback terrapin south carolina aquarium DSC 0365.jpg Northern diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
Schoepff, 1793
Incidental [2] Nominate subspecies Rarely strays into southeast through Delaware River
River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) - West Windsor, New Jersey 2023-04-18.jpg River cooter Pseudemys concinna
(Le Conte, 1830)
Nonnative [2] Introduced from pet trade Primarily southeast, some southwest records
Pseudemys rubriventris 02 SERC 07-11-11 (12746746823).jpg Northern red-bellied cooter Pseudemys rubriventris
(Le Conte, 1830)
ThreatenedSoutheastern counties
Terrapene carolina ssp. carolina - Eastern Box Turtle (5-10-23) 02.jpg Eastern box turtle Terrapene carolina carolina
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Species of special concern Nominate subspecies Statewide but more abundant to the south
Trachemys scripta elegans partially submerged.jpg Red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans
(Wied-Neuwied, 1839)
Invasive [2] Listed as one of the world's worst invasive alien species Statewide except northern central counties
Tortuga de orejas amarillas (Trachemys scripta scripta), Jardin Botanico, Munich, Alemania, 2013-09-08, DD 02.JPG Yellow-bellied slider Trachemys scripta scripta
(Thunberg, 1792)
Invasive [2] Nominate subspecies of pond slider Primarily southeast, but scattered observations throughout southern and central parts of the state

Family: Kinosternidae - mud and musk turtles

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Eastern mud turtle CBEC 9.28.20 DSC 0753.jpg Southeastern mud turtle Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum
Bonnaterre, 1789
Endangered Nominate subspecies Bucks County [n 2]
Sternotherus odoratus 278765713.jpg Eastern musk turtle Sternotherus odoratus
(Latreille, 1802)
AbundantPrimarily in the northwestern and southeastern counties, some scattered records in central, northwestern, and southeastern counties

Family: Trionychidae - softshell turtles

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Apalone mutica mutica 157081809.jpg Midland smooth softshell turtle Apalone mutica mutica
(Lesueur, 1827)
Extirpated [5] Nominate subspecies Formerly found in southwest, now extirpated
Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera) - Flickr - 2ndPeter.jpg Eastern spiny softshell Apalone spinifera spinifera
(Lesueur, 1827)
Abundant Nominate subspecies Eastern counties, Delaware River and its tributaries, scattered records in between

Squamata - snakes and lizards

Order: Squamata

Clade: Sauria/Lacertilia - lizards

Family: Gekkonidae - geckos

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Lizard 1400178 Nevit.jpg Mediterranean house gecko Hemidactylus turcicus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Nonnative [2] Southeastern counties

Family: Lacertidae - wall lizards

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Podarcis siculus in Carasco 024.jpg Northern Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus campestris
(Rafinesque, 1810)
Nonnative [2] Philadelphia County, Montgomery County, and Bucks County

Family: Phrynosomatidae - earless, spiny, tree, side-blotched and horned lizards

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Douthat State Park - Eastern fence lizard - 2.jpg Eastern fence lizard Sceloporus undulatus
(Bosc & Daudin, 1801)
Species of special concernSouthern and central counties

Family: Scincidae - skinks

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Plestiodon anthracinus Stanton 1.jpg Northern coal skink Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus
Baird, 1850
Species of special concern Nominate subspecies Northern and central counties
Five-lined Skink SERC 04-28-10 (12527771005).jpg Common five-lined skink Plestiodon fasciatus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
AbundantEssentially statewide, but more common in the northwest, central, and southeast
Broad-headed Skink - Plestiodon laticeps, Sugarloaf Mountain, Dickerson, Maryland.jpg Broad-headed skink Plestiodon laticeps
(Schneider, 1801)
Candidate species Adams County, Lancaster County, and Chester County

Clade: Serpentes - snakes

Family: Colubridae - colubrid snakes

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Eastern Worm Snake - Flickr - GregTheBusker (1).jpg Eastern worm snake Carphophis amoenus amoenus
(Say, 1825)
Species of special concernSouth-central and southeastern counties
Kirtland's Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) (28650646388).jpg Kirtland's snake Clonophis kirtlandii
(Kennicott, 1856)
Endangered Butler County, Allegheny County, and Forest County
Colubridae- Coluber constrictor constrictor (Northern Black Racer).jpg Northern black racer Coluber constrictor constrictor
Linnaeus, 1758
Abundant Nominate subspecies Statewide except northernmost counties
Colubridae- Diadophis punctatus edwardsi (Ringneck Snake) - 49826432666.jpg Northern ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
(Merrem, 1820)
Abundant Subspecies of widespread ring-necked snake Statewide
Complex Pantherophis alleghaniensis - Eastern & Gray Ratsnake Complex 06.jpg Eastern ratsnake Pantherophis alleghaniensis
(Holbrook, 1836)
AbundantThe taxonomy of the genus Pantherophis , and especially P. alleghaniensis and P. spiloides, are in flux, and the names and validity of this species are prone to changeGenerally east of the Appalachians
Milwaukee Public Museum March 2023 16 (Survival of the Slowest--gray ratsnake).jpg Gray ratsnake Pantherophis spiloides
(A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron, & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)
Abundant [n 3] The taxonomy of the genus Pantherophis , and especially P. alleghaniensis and P. spiloides, are in flux, and the names and validity of this species are prone to changeGenerally west of the Appalachians
Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos), Monague, MA (42246291915).jpg Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos
Latreille, 1801
Species of special concernCentral and eastern counties
Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) (40682943834).jpg Eastern milksnake Lampropeltis triangulum
(Lacépède, 1789)
AbundantWhen subspecies are recognized, the Pennsylvania subspecies is Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum Statewide
Juvenile Nerodia sipedon sipedon eating a fish 2.jpg Northern watersnake Nerodia sipedon sipedon
(Linnaeus, 1758)
AbundantStatewide
Rough Green Snake - Flickr - GregTheBusker.jpg Northern rough green snake Opheodrys aestivus aestivus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Endangered Lancaster County and Chester County
83. Smooth Green Snake.jpg Smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis
(Harlan, 1827)
Species of special concernStatewide except southeast
Regina septemvittata 55055052.jpg Queensnake Regina septemvittata
(Say, 1825)
Species of special concernWestern and southeastern counties
Colubridae- Storeria dekayi dekayi (DeKay's Brownsnake, Northern Brown Snake) - 44727780235.jpg DeKay's brown snake Storeria dekayi
(Holbrook, 1836)
AbundantStatewide
Northern Redbellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) - Flickr - 2ndPeter.jpg Northern red-bellied snake Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata
(Storer, 1839)
Abundant Nominate subspecies Statewide except southeast
Thamnophis brachystoma Stanton 2.jpg Short-headed garter snake Thamnophis brachystoma
(Cope, 1892)
Species of special concernNorthwestern counties, introduced to Pittsburgh area [6]
Common or Eastern Ribbon Snake - Thamnosis sauritus sauritus, Huntley Meadows Park, Va.jpg Eastern ribbonsnake Thamnophis saurita saurita
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Species of special concernSubspecies of common ribbon snake Central counties eastward, some records north of Pittsburgh [7]
Ribbon Snake 20-05-23 069.jpg Northern ribbon snake Thamnophis saurita septentrionalis
Rossman, 1963
Species of special concernSubspecies of common ribbon snake Northwestern counties and Tioga County
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) - Kitchener, Ontario 01.jpg Eastern garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Abundant Nominate subspecies Statewide
Iowaherps-virginia valeriae.jpg Eastern smooth earth snake Virginia valeriae valeriae
Baird and Girard, 1853
Species of special concernSubspecies of smooth earth snake Lancaster County and Chester County
Mountain earth snake Virginia valeriae pulchra
(Richmond, 1954)
Species of special concernSubspecies of smooth earth snake Central counties

Family: Viperidae - pit vipers

ImageCommon nameScientific nameStatusNotesDistribution
Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) (29324851667).jpg Eastern copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Species of special concernMost of state except westernmost and northernmost counties
Crotalus horridus 132726068.jpg Timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
Linnaeus, 1758
Species of special concernMost of state except western and southeastern counties
Animals at the Indianapolis Zoo - 2006-11-12.jpg Eastern massasauga Sistrurus catenatus
(Rafinesque, 1818)
Endangered Venango County and Butler County

Nonestablished species

Reptiles released from the pet trade can be seen in Pennsylvania. Some more established than others. Released pets can eventually become established breeding populations, such as in the case of the red-eared slider, which is now illegal to own in many countries. [8] [9]


Notes

  1. The population in Crawford County and Mercer County has not been recorded since 1928. [3]
  2. A single deceased mud turtle was recorded from Washington County. [2]
  3. Included in P. alleghaniensis by both the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and by PARS.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical house gecko</span> Species of gecko from sub-Saharan Africa (Hemidactylus mabouia)

The tropical house gecko, also called commonly the Afro-American house gecko and the cosmopolitan house gecko, is a species of house gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to sub-Saharan Africa. However, it is also found in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, where it has been inadvertently introduced by humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The smooth softshell turtle is a species of North American softshell turtle in the family Trionychidae. This freshwater species is endemic to the United States, where it inhabits the Mississippi River system, along with other adjoining waterways that empty into the Gulf of Mexico.

References

  1. "Pennsylvania Native Reptile and Amphibian Species". Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commisision. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "PARS". Pennsylvania Amphibian & Reptile Survey. The Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  3. "Glyptemys muhlenbergii". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Graptemys pseudogeographica". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  5. "Apalone mutica mutica". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  6. Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. ISBN   978-0-544-12997-9. (Thamnophis brachystoma, pp. 426-427 + Plate 42).
  7. "Thamnophis saurita subsp. saurita". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  8. Red-eared slider (PDF) (Report). Animal Pest Alert. Vol. 6. Western Australia: Department of Agriculture. 2009.
  9. Species listed in the Annexes of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. European Commission Environment (Report). September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  10. "Terrapene triunguis". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  11. "Terrapene ornata". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  12. "Pelodiscus sinensis". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  13. "Hemidactylus mabouia". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  14. "Anolis sagrei". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  15. "Anolis carolinensis". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  16. "Pantherophis guttatus". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved September 19, 2024.