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 | Snake | Viperidae | Rare; endangered in the state; found in Norfolk, Berkshire, and Hampden Counties | |
Black racer | Coluber constrictor | Snake | Colubridae | Locally common although declining; statewide except Nantucket | |
Timber rattlesnake | Crotalus horridus | Snake | Viperidae | Endangered in the state; very rare; found in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk counties | |
Eastern worm snake | Carphophis ameonus amoenus | Snake | Colubridae | Rare and threatened in the Commonwealth; found only in the Southern Connecticut River Valley in Hampden and Hampshire Counties | |
Ring-necked snake | Diadophis punctatus | Snake | Colubridae | Common and widespread in the Commonwealth; statewide | |
Eastern hog-nosed snake | Heterodon platirhinos | Snake | Colubridae | Uncommon; distribution is spotty however it's not found in Berkshire, Nantucket, and Dukes County | |
Eastern Milk snake | Lampropeltis triangulum | Snake | Colubridae | Common; statewide | |
Northern water snake | Nerodia sipedon | Snake | Colubridae | Common; statewide except Dukes County | |
Smooth green snake | Opheodrys vernalis | Snake | Colubridae | Common but declining due to habitat loss; statewide | |
Black Rat snake | Pantherophis obsoletus | Snake | Colubridae | Endangered in the Commonwealth; very rare; found only in Southern Worcester County and the Connecticut River Valley And Essex County | |
DeKay's brown snake | Storeria dekayi | Snake | Colubridae | Common; statewide except Martha's Vineyard island and Nantucket | |
Brahminy blind snake | Ramphotyphlops braminus | Snake | Typhlopidae | Introduced; reported to occur only in and around Boston; status unclear | |
Northern redbelly snake | Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata | Snake | Colubridae | Common; statewide except Nantucket | |
Ribbon snake | Thamnophis sauritus | Snake | Colubridae | Common but declining; statewide | |
Common Garter Snake | Thamnophis sirtalis | Snake | Colubridae | Common; statewide |
Turtles
Name | Species/Authority | Order | Family | Range and status | IUCN Red List |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loggerhead sea turtle | Caretta caretta | Turtle | Cheloniidae | Coastal waters of Southeastern Mass; one recorded in Essex County in 2008; endangered federally and in the Commonwealth | |
Green sea turtle | Chelonia mydas | Turtle | Cheloniidae | Reported from Dukes, Nantucket, and Cape Cod; very rare; listed as threatened in the Commonwealth and endangered federally | |
Common snapping turtle | Chelydra serpentina | Turtle | Chelydridae | Common; statewide | |
Painted turtle | Chrysemys picta | Turtle | Emydidae | Common; statewide | |
Spotted turtle | Clemmys guttata | Turtle | Emydidae | Locally common to uncommon; statewide except Northern Berkshire County and Suffolk County | |
Leatherback sea turtle | Dermochelys coriacea | Turtle | Dermochelyidae | Coastal southeastern waters; rare; endangered | |
Blanding's turtle | Emydoidea blandingii | Turtle | Emydidae | Scattered populations in Eastern Mass; rare; threatened in the Commonwealth | |
Hawksbill sea turtle | Eretmochelys imbricata | Turtle | Cheloniidae | Rare vagrant; recorded in 1909, 1968, and 1989; endangered | |
Wood turtle | Glyptemys insculpta | Turtle | Emydidae | Uncommon; statewide anywhere north and west of Bristol County and Plymouth County; listed as special concern | |
Bog turtle | Glyptemys muhlenbergii | Turtle | Emydidae | Very rare; found only in Berkshire County; endangered in the commonwealth and federally | |
Kemp's ridley sea turtle | Lepidochelys kempii | Turtle | Cheloniidae | Recorded from Cape Cod, Dukes County, and Nantucket; listed as endangered in the Commonwealth | |
Diamondback terrapin | Malaclemys terrapin | Turtle | Emydidae | Uncommon; found in Cape Cod, Plymouth County, and Bristol County; listed as threatened federally and in the Commonwealth | |
Northern red-bellied cooter | Pseudemys rubriventris | Turtle | Emydidae | Rare; found only in Plymouth County; listed as endangered | |
Eastern musk turtle | Sternotherus odoratus | Turtle | Kinosternidae | Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket Counties | |
Eastern box turtle | Terrapene carolina carolina | Turtle | Emydidae | uncommon; statewide except possibly Nantucket; listed as special concern | |
Red-eared slider | Trachemys scripta elegans | Turtle | Emydidae | Introduced; may occur statewide and probably common |
Lizards
Name | Species/Authority | Order | Family | Range and status | IUCN Red List |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common Five-lined Skink | Plestidon fasciatus | Lizard | Scincidae | Extirpated; formerly Western and Southern Massachusetts (Berkshire and Bristol Counties), but is now extinct in these areas due to habitat loss | |
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
- Massachusetts Reptiles and Amphibians List J.E. Cardoza and P.G. Mirick, Massachusetts Div. of Fisheries and Wildlife
- Red-eared Slider Fact Sheet-USGS
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