List of reptiles of Massachusetts

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Aquacrystal11 (talk | contribs) at 01:26, 30 May 2020 (Unconfirmed reports of sicula in Middlesex County, MA. Unbolded the scientific name for the Italian wall lizard). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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
7
Black racer
Coluber constrictor
Snake Colubridae Locally common although declining; statewide except Nantucket
7
Timber rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
Snake Viperidae Endangered in the state; very rare; found in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk counties
7
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
7
Ring-necked snake
Diadophis punctatus
Snake Colubridae Common and widespread in the Commonwealth; statewide
7
Eastern hog-nosed snake
Heterodon platirhinos
Snake Colubridae Uncommon; distribution is spotty however it's not found in Berkshire, Nantucket, and Dukes County
7
Eastern Milk snake
Lampropeltis triangulum
Snake Colubridae Common; statewide
7
Northern water snake
Nerodia sipedon
Snake Colubridae Common; statewide except Dukes County
7
Smooth green snake
Opheodrys vernalis
Snake Colubridae Common but declining due to habitat loss; statewide
7
Black Rat snake
Pantherophis obsoletus
Snake Colubridae Endangered in the Commonwealth; very rare; found only in Southern Worcester County and the Connecticut River Valley
7
DeKay's brown snake
Storeria dekayi
Snake Colubridae Common; statewide except Martha's Vineyard island and Nantucket
7
Brahminy blind snake
Ramphotyphlops braminus
Snake Typhlopidae Introduced; reported to occur only in and around Boston; status unclear
7
Northern redbelly snake
Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata
Snake Colubridae Common; statewide except Nantucket
7
Ribbon snake
Thamnophis sauritus
Snake Colubridae Common but declining; statewide
7
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
Snake Colubridae Common; statewide
7

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
7
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
7
Common snapping turtle
Chelydra serpentina
Turtle Chelydridae Common; statewide
7
Painted turtle
Chrysemys picta
Turtle Emydidae Common; statewide
7
Spotted turtle
Clemmys guttata Turtle Emydidae Locally common to uncommon; statewide except Northern Berkshire County and Suffolk County
7
Leatherback sea turtle
Dermochelys coriacea Turtle Dermochelyidae Coastal southeastern waters; rare; endangered
7
Blanding's turtle
Emydoidea blandingii Turtle Emydidae Scattered populations in Eastern Mass; rare; threatened in the Commonwealth
7
Hawksbill sea turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata Turtle Cheloniidae Rare vagrant; recorded in 1909, 1968, and 1989; endangered
7
Wood turtle
Glyptemys insculpta Turtle Emydidae Uncommon; statewide anywhere north and west of Bristol County and Plymouth County; listed as special concern
7
Bog turtle
Glyptemys muhlenbergii Turtle Emydidae Very rare; found only in Berkshire County; endangered in the commonwealth and federally
7
Kemp's ridley sea turtle
Lepidochelys kempii Turtle Cheloniidae Recorded from Cape Cod, Dukes County, and Nantucket; listed as endangered in the Commonwealth
7
Diamondback terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin Turtle Emydidae Uncommon; found in Cape Cod, Plymouth County, and Bristol County; listed as threatened federally and in the Commonwealth
7
Northern red-bellied cooter
Pseudemys rubriventris Turtle Emydidae Rare; found only in Plymouth County; listed as endangered
7
Eastern musk turtle
Sternotherus odoratus Turtle Kinosternidae Common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket Counties
7
Eastern box turtle
Terrapene carolina carolina Turtle Emydidae uncommon; statewide except possibly Nantucket; listed as special concern
7
Red-eared slider
Trachemys scripta elegans Turtle Emydidae Introduced; 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
Lizard Scincidae Extirpated; 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