List of reptiles of Alabama

The U.S. state of Alabama is home to 93 indigenous reptile species, not including subspecies. Indigenous species include one species of crocodilian, 12 lizard species, 49 snake species, and 31 turtle species. Three native species have possibly been extirpated from the state. These include the eastern indigo snake, southern hognose snake and the mimic glass lizard.[1][2]

There are four known introduced reptile species, all lizards.[3] They include the Indo-Pacific gecko, brown anole, Texas horned lizard, and Mediterranean house gecko.[4]

Human predation and habitat destruction has placed several reptile species and subspecies at risk of extirpation or extinction. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources lists the conservation status of each species within the state with a rank of lowest, low, moderate, high, and highest concern.[3][5][6][7]

## Alligator

[edit]

Image  | Scientific name  | Common name  | Family  | Conservation
concern

|
|
|
|

| Alligator mississippiensis | American alligator | Alligatoridae | No longer listed as endangered, U.S. Fish and Wildlife now lists as threatened

## Lizards

[edit]

Image  | Scientific name  | Common name  | Family  | Conservation
concern

|
|
|
|

| Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus | eastern slender glass lizard | Anguidae | Moderate
| Ophisaurus mimicus | mimic glass lizard | Anguidae | Possibly extirpated
| Ophisaurus ventralis | eastern glass lizard | Anguidae | Moderate
| Hemidactylus garnotii | Indo-Pacific gecko | Gekkonidae | Exotic
| Hemidactylus turcicus | Mediterranean house gecko | Gekkonidae | Exotic
| Anolis carolinensis carolinensis | green anole | Dactyloidae | Lowest
| Anolis sagrei carolinensis | brown anole | Dactyloidae | Exotic
| Phrynosoma cornutum | Texas horned lizard | Phrynosomatidae | Exotic
| Sceloporus undulatus | eastern fence lizard | Phrynosomatidae | Low
| Plestiodon anthracinus | coal skink | Scincidae | High
| Plestiodon egregius | mole skink | Scincidae | Low/
Possibly declining
| Plestiodon fasciatus | five-lined skink | Scincidae | Lowest
| Plestiodon inexpectatus | southeastern five-lined skink | Scincidae | High
| Plestiodon laticeps | broad-headed skink | Scincidae | Low
| Scincella lateralis | ground skink
little brown skink | Scincidae | Low
| Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus | eastern six-lined racerunner | Teiidae | Moderate

## Snakes

[edit]

Alabama is home to sixty-six known snake species and subspecies. There are nine snake species and subspecies that are venomous to humans in the state. The remaining fifty-five species and subspecies pose no threat to humans.[5][8][9]

Image  | Scientific name  | Common name  | Family  | Venomous to humans  | Conservation
concern

|
|
|
|
|

| Agkistrodon contortrix | eastern copperhead | Viperidae | Yes | Lowest
| Agkistrodon conanti | Florida cottonmouth
green-tailed moccasin | Viperidae | Yes | Lowest
| Agkistrodon piscivorus | northern cottonmouth
water moccasin | Viperidae | Yes | Lowest
| Carphophis amoenus amoenus | eastern worm snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Carphophis amoenus helenae | midwestern worm snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Cemophora coccinea copei | northern scarlet snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Coluber constrictor constrictor | northern black racer | Colubridae | No | Low
| Coluber constrictor priapus | southern black racer | Colubridae | No | Low
| Crotalus adamanteus | eastern diamondback rattlesnake | Viperidae | Yes | High
| Crotalus horridus | timber rattlesnake
canebrake rattlesnake | Viperidae | Yes | Low
| Diadophis punctatus edwardsii | northern ringneck snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Diadophis punctatus punctatus | southern ringneck snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Diadophis punctatus stictogenys | Mississippi ringneck snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Drymarchon couperi | eastern indigo snake | Colubridae | No | Highest,
Possibly extirpated
| Farancia abacura abacura | eastern mud snake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Farancia abacura reinwardtii | western mud snake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma | rainbow snake | Colubridae | No | Highest
| Heterodon platirhinos | eastern hognose snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Heterodon simus | southern hognose snake | Colubridae | No | Highest,
Possibly extirpated
| Lampropeltis calligaster | prairie kingsnake | Colubridae | No | High
| Lampropeltis rhombomaculata | mole kingsnake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Lampropeltis elapsoides | scarlet kingsnake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Lampropeltis getula | eastern kingsnake | Colubridae | No | High
| Lampropeltis nigra | black kingsnake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum | eastern milk snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Lampropeltis triangulum syspila | red milk snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Masticophis flagellum flagellum | eastern coachwhip | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Micrurus fulvius | eastern coral snake | Elapidae | Yes | High
| Nerodia clarkii clarkii | Gulf salt marsh snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Nerodia cyclopion | Mississippi green water snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster | redbelly water snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster | yellowbelly water snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Nerodia fasciata confluens | broad-banded water snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Nerodia fasciata fasciata | southern banded water snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Nerodia fasciata pictiventris | Florida banded water snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Nerodia floridana | Florida green water snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Nerodia rhombifer | diamondback water snake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Nerodia sipedon pleuralis | midland water snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Nerodia taxispilota | brown water snake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Opheodrys aestivus | rough green snake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Pantherophis guttatus guttatus | corn snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Pantherophis alleghaniensis | central rat snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi | black pine snake | Colubridae | No | Highest
| Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus | northern pine snake | Colubridae | No | High
| Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus | Florida pine snake | Colubridae | No | High
| Liodytes rigida sinicola | Gulf crayfish snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Regina septemvittata | queen snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Rhadinaea flavilata | pine woods snake | Colubridae | No | Moderate
| Liodytes pygaea pygaea | North Florida swamp snake | Colubridae | No | High
| Sistrurus miliarius barbouri | dusky pigmy rattlesnake
Florida ground rattlesnake | Viperidae | Yes | Moderate
| Sistrurus miliarius miliarius | Carolina pigmy rattlesnake
ground rattlesnake | Viperidae | Yes | Moderate
| Sistrurus miliarius streckeri | western pigmy rattlesnake
ground rattlesnake | Viperidae | Yes | Moderate
| Storeria dekayi dekayi | northern brown snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Storeria dekayi limnetes | marsh brown snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Storeria dekayi wrightorum | midland brown snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata | northern redbelly snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Tantilla coronata | southeastern crown snake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Thamnophis saurita saurita | eastern ribbon snake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis | common garter snake | Colubridae | No | Low
| Virginia striatula | rough earth snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Virginia valeriae elegans | western smooth earth snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest
| Virginia valeriae valeriae | eastern smooth earth snake | Colubridae | No | Lowest

## Turtles

[edit]

Alabama law makes it illegal to take, sell or possess turtles, turtle parts, or turtle eggs from the wild for commercial purposes.[6]

Image  | Scientific name  | Common name  | Family  | Conservation
concern

|
|
|
|

| Caretta caretta | loggerhead sea turtle | Cheloniidae | Highest
| Chelonia mydas | green sea turtle | Cheloniidae | Highest
| Lepidochelys kempii | Atlantic ridley sea turtle | Cheloniidae | Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
| Chelydra serpentina | common snapping turtle | Chelydridae | Lowest
| Macrochelys temminckii | alligator snapping turtle | Chelydridae | Wheeler Wildlife Refuge lists as endangered
| Dermochelys coriacea | leatherback sea turtle | Dermochelyidae | Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
| Chrysemys picta picta | eastern painted turtle | Emydidae | Lowest
| Chrysemys picta dorsalis | southern painted turtle | Emydidae | Lowest
| Chrysemys picta marginata | midland painted turtle | Emydidae | Lowest
| Deirochelys reticularia reticularia | eastern chicken turtle | Emydidae | Low
| Graptemys barbouri | Barbour's map turtle | Emydidae | High
| Graptemys ernsti | Escambia map turtle | Emydidae | Moderate
| Graptemys geographica | northern map turtle | Emydidae | Low
| Graptemys nigrinoda delticola | delta map turtle
southern black-knobbed sawback | Emydidae | Moderate
| Graptemys nigrinoda nigrinoda | black-knobbed map turtle
northern black-knobbed sawback | Emydidae | Moderate
| Graptemys ouachitensis | Ouachita map turtle | Emydidae | Lowest
| Graptemys pulchra | Alabama map turtle | Emydidae | Moderate
| Malaclemys terrapin pileata | Mississippi diamondback terrapin | Emydidae | Highest
| Pseudemys alabamensis | Alabama red-bellied cooter
(Designated as official state reptile) | Emydidae | Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
| Pseudemys concinna concinna | eastern river cooter | Emydidae | Lowest
| Pseudemys concinna floridana | coastal plain cooter | Emydidae | Lowest
| Trachemys scripta elegans | red-eared slider | Emydidae | Lowest
| Trachemys scripta scripta | yellow-bellied slider | Emydidae | Lowest
| Terrapene carolina carolina | eastern box turtle | Emydidae | Low
| Terrapene carolina major | Gulf Coast box turtle | Emydidae | Low
| Terrapene carolina triunguis | three-toed box turtle | Emydidae | Low
| Kinosternon subrubrum | eastern mud turtle | Kinosternidae | Lowest
| Sternotherus minor minor | loggerhead musk turtle | Kinosternidae | Low
| Sternotherus minor peltifer | stripe-necked musk turtle | Kinosternidae | Low
| Sternotherus depressus | flattened musk turtle | Kinosternidae | High
| Sternotherus odoratus | common musk turtle
stinkpot turtle | Kinosternidae | Lowest
| Gopherus polyphemus | gopher tortoise | Testudinidae | High
| Apalone ferox | Florida softshell turtle | Trionychidae | Moderate
| Apalone mutica | smooth softshell turtle | Trionychidae | Low
| Apalone spinifera | spiny softshell turtle | Trionychidae | Low
| Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata[10] | Atlantic hawksbill | Cheloniidae | Highest/U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Mount, Robert H. (1975). The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. Auburn, Alabama: Auburn Printing Company. pp. 150–315\. OCLC 1958638.
2. ^ "Reptiles in Alabama". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
3. ^ a b "Lizards". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
4. ^ "Exotic Animals Established in Alabama". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
5. ^ a b "Snakes". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
6. ^ a b "Turtles". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
7. ^ "Alligators". Outdoor Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 7, 2005. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
8. ^ Mount, Robert H. (1975). The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. Auburn, Alabama: Auburn Printing Company. pp. 172–259\. OCLC 1958638.
9. ^ "Identification and Control of Snakes in Alabama" (PDF). Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Alabama A&M University and Auburn University. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
10. ^ Guyer, Craig (2015). Turtles of Alabama. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Press. p. 3\. ISBN 978-0-8173-5806-8.
11. ^ "Carey (Eretmochelys imbricata)". FWS Focus. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

List of reptiles of the United States by political division

States|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Federal district|

Washington, D.C.

Territories|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* U.S. Virgin Islands

Other lists|

* North American reptiles
* North American amphibians
* Reptiles and amphibians by region

* v
* t
* e

Lists of snakes of the United States

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

* v
* t
* e

State of Alabama

Montgomery (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Aviation
* Climate
* Delegations
* Geography
* Geology
* Government
* governors
* History
* National Register of Historic Places
* Mass media
* newspapers
* radio
* TV
* People
* Sports
* Symbols
* Transportation

Society|

* Abortion
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* African Americans
* Economy
* Education
* Elections
* Gun laws
* Homelessness
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

* North Alabama
* Central Alabama
* South Alabama
* Birmingham District
* Black Belt
* Canebrake
* Cumberland Plateau
* Eastern Shore
* Gulf Coastal Plain
* Piedmont
* Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians
* Tennessee Valley
* Wiregrass

Flora and fauna|

* Amphibians
* Gardens
* Mammals
* Reptiles
* Trees

Largest cities|

* Huntsville
* Birmingham
* Montgomery
* Mobile
* Tuscaloosa
* Hoover
* Auburn
* Dothan
* Decatur
* Madison

Metros|

* Birmingham–Hoover
* Huntsville
* Mobile
* Montgomery
* Tuscaloosa
* Daphne–Fairhope–Foley
* Decatur
* Auburn–Opelika
* Dothan
* Florence–Muscle Shoals
* Anniston–Oxford–Jacksonville
* Gadsden

Counties|

* Autauga
* Baldwin
* Barbour
* Bibb
* Blount
* Bullock
* Butler
* Calhoun
* Chambers
* Cherokee
* Chilton
* Choctaw
* Clarke
* Clay
* Cleburne
* Coffee
* Colbert
* Conecuh
* Coosa
* Covington
* Crenshaw
* Cullman
* Dale
* Dallas
* DeKalb
* Elmore
* Escambia
* Etowah
* Fayette
* Franklin
* Geneva
* Greene
* Hale
* Henry
* Houston
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Lamar
* Lauderdale
* Lawrence
* Lee
* Limestone
* Lowndes
* Macon
* Madison
* Marengo
* Marion
* Marshall
* Mobile
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* Perry
* Pickens
* Pike
* Randolph
* Russell
* St. Clair
* Shelby
* Sumter
* Talladega
* Tallapoosa
* Tuscaloosa
* Walker
* Washington
* Wilcox
* Winston

Alabama portal
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template