Reptiles and Amphibians

Reptiles and amphibians present on the Jornada del Muerto including the Dona Ana Mountains.

ORDER SQUAMATA (snakes & lizards) 
  
FAMILY LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE 
Western Blind SnakeLeptotyphlops humilis
Texas Blind SnakeLeptotyphlops dulcis
  
FAMILY COLUBRIDAE 
Western Hognose SnakeHeterodon nasicus
CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum
Desert Striped WhipsnakeMasticophis taeniatus
Big Bend Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora hexalepis
Trans-Pecos Rat SnakeBogertophis subocularis
Glossy SnakeArizona elegans
Gopher Snake (Bullsnake)Pituophis melanoleucus
Desert Kingsnake (Sonora Kingsnake)Lampropeltis getula
Long-nosed SnakeRhinocheilus lecontei
Western Hook-nosed SnakeGyalopion canum
Ground SnakeSonora semiannulata
Plains Black-headed SnakeTantilla nigriceps
Lyre SnakeTrimorphodon biscutatus
Night SnakeHypsiglena torquata
  
FAMILY VIPERIDAE (poisonous) 
MassasaugaSistrurus catenatus
Western Diamondback RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox
Rock RattlesnakeCrotalus lepidus
Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus molossus
Prairie (Western) RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis
  
FAMILY IGUANIDAE 
Collared LizardCrotaphytus collaris
Leopard LizardGambelia wislizenii
Greater Earless LizardCophosaurus texanus
Lesser Earless LizardHolbrookia maculata
Texas Horned LizardPhrynosoma cornutum
Roundtail Horned LizardPhrynosoma modestum
Desert Spiny LizardSceloporus magister
Eastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus
Tree LizardUrosaurus ornatus
Side-blotched LizardUta stansburiana
  
FAMILY SCINCIDAE 
Great Plains SkinkEumeces obsoletus
  
FAMILY TEIIDAE 
Chihuahuan Spotted WhiptailCnemidophorus exanguis
Little Striped WhiptailCnemidophorus inornatus
New Mexico WhiptailCnemidophorus neomexicanus
Checkered WhiptailCnemidophorus grahmii
 (formerly C. tesselatus)
Western WhiptailCnemidophorus tigris
Desert Grassland WhiptailCnemidophorus uniparens
  
ORDER TESTUDINATA or CHELONIA (turtles) 
  
FAMILY TESTUDINIDAE (EMYDIDAE) 
Ornate Box TurtleTerrapene ornata
  
ORDER ANURA (frogs & toads) 
  
FAMILY BUFONIDAE 
Great Plains ToadBufo cognatus
Green ToadBufo debilis
Red-spotted ToadBufo punctatus
Woodhouse’s ToadBufo woodhousei
  
FAMILY PELOBATIDAE 
Couch’s SpadefootScaphiopus couchii
Plains SpadefootSpea bombifrons
New Mexico SpadefootSpea multiplicata
  
ORDER CAUDATA (salamanders) 
  
FAMILY AMBYSTOMATIDAE 
Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma tigrinum

Range verification provided by Paul Hyder (NMSU) and supplemented by Dona Ana County distribution maps in: Williamson, M.A., P.W. Hyder, J.S. Applegarth. 1994. Snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, toads, & salamanders of New Mexico. Sunstone Press, Santa Fe. NM. 176 p.

7/13/2003 [entry by John Anderson]
Cnemidophorus tesselatus changed to C. grahmii as per David Lightfoot with reference to Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. Price. 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press.