List of reptiles of Massachusetts

This is a list of Massachusetts reptiles. It includes all reptiles currently found in Massachusetts. It does not include species found only in captivity.

Snakes

Name Species/Authority Order Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Northern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
SnakeViperidaeRare; endangered in the state; found in Norfolk, Berkshire, and Hampden Counties
7
Black racer
Coluber constrictor
SnakeColubridaeLocally common although declining; statewide except Nantucket
7
Timber rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
SnakeViperidaeEndangered in the state; very rare; found in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk counties
7
Eastern worm snake
Carphophis ameonus amoenus
SnakeColubridaeRare and threatened in the Commonwealth; found only in the Southern Connecticut River Valley in Hampden and Hampshire Counties
7
Ring-necked snake
Diadophis punctatus
SnakeColubridaeCommon and widespread in the Commonwealth; statewide
7
Eastern hog-nosed snake
Heterodon platirhinos
SnakeColubridaeUncommon; distribution is spotty however it's not found in Berkshire, Nantucket, and Dukes County
7
Eastern Milk snake
Lampropeltis triangulum
SnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide
7
Northern water snake
Nerodia sipedon
SnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide except Dukes County
7
Smooth green snake
Opheodrys vernalis
SnakeColubridaeCommon but declining due to habitat loss; statewide
7
Black Rat snake
Pantherophis obsoletus
SnakeColubridaeEndangered in the Commonwealth; very rare; found only in Southern Worcester County and the Connecticut River Valley And Essex County
7
DeKay's brown snake
Storeria dekayi
SnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide except Martha's Vineyard island and Nantucket
7
Brahminy blind snake
Ramphotyphlops braminus
SnakeTyphlopidaeIntroduced; reported to occur only in and around Boston; status unclear
7
Northern redbelly snake
Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata
SnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide except Nantucket
7
Ribbon snake
Thamnophis sauritus
SnakeColubridaeCommon but declining; statewide
7
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
SnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide
7

Turtles

Name Species/Authority Order Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Loggerhead sea turtle
Caretta caretta
TurtleCheloniidaeCoastal waters of Southeastern Mass; one recorded in Essex County in 2008; endangered federally and in the Commonwealth
7
Green sea turtle
Chelonia mydas
TurtleCheloniidaeReported from Dukes, Nantucket, and Cape Cod; very rare; listed as threatened in the Commonwealth and endangered federally
7
Common snapping turtle
Chelydra serpentina
TurtleChelydridaeCommon; statewide
7
Painted turtle
Chrysemys picta
TurtleEmydidaeCommon; statewide
7
Spotted turtle
Clemmys guttataTurtleEmydidaeLocally common to uncommon; statewide except Northern Berkshire County and Suffolk County
7
Leatherback sea turtle
Dermochelys coriaceaTurtleDermochelyidaeCoastal southeastern waters; rare; endangered
7
Blanding's turtle
Emydoidea blandingiiTurtleEmydidaeScattered populations in Eastern Mass; rare; threatened in the Commonwealth
7
Hawksbill sea turtle
Eretmochelys imbricataTurtleCheloniidaeRare vagrant; recorded in 1909, 1968, and 1989; endangered
7
Wood turtle
Glyptemys insculptaTurtleEmydidaeUncommon; statewide anywhere north and west of Bristol County and Plymouth County; listed as special concern
7
Bog turtle
Glyptemys muhlenbergiiTurtleEmydidaeVery rare; found only in Berkshire County; endangered in the commonwealth and federally
7
Kemp's ridley sea turtle
Lepidochelys kempiiTurtleCheloniidaeRecorded from Cape Cod, Dukes County, and Nantucket; listed as endangered in the Commonwealth
7
Diamondback terrapin
Malaclemys terrapinTurtleEmydidaeUncommon; found in Cape Cod, Plymouth County, and Bristol County; listed as threatened federally and in the Commonwealth
7
Northern red-bellied cooter
Pseudemys rubriventrisTurtleEmydidaeRare; found only in Plymouth County; listed as endangered
7
Eastern musk turtle
Sternotherus odoratusTurtleKinosternidaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket Counties
7
Eastern box turtle
Terrapene carolina carolinaTurtleEmydidaeuncommon; statewide except possibly Nantucket; listed as special concern
7
Red-eared slider
Trachemys scripta elegansTurtleEmydidaeIntroduced; may occur statewide and probably common
7

Lizards

Name Species/Authority Order Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Common Five-lined Skink
Plestidon fasciatus
LizardScincidaeExtirpated; formerly Western and Southern Massachusetts (Berkshire and Bristol Counties), but is now extinct in these areas due to habitat loss
7
Italian wall lizard
Podarcis siculus Lizard Lacertidae Recorded only in Suffolk county. It is unknown how they got there, but now there are healthy populations in the area. There are unconfirmed reports of them in Middlesex County.

References

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