kids encyclopedia robot

List of reptiles of Alabama facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

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.

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

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.

Alligator

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Alligator mississippiensis (1),.jpg Alligator mississippiensis American alligator Alligatoridae No longer listed as endangered, U.S. Fish and Wildlife now lists as threatened

Lizards

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Slender glass lizard.jpg Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus eastern slender glass lizard Anguidae Moderate
Mimic Glass Lizard (2289044746).jpg Ophisaurus mimicus mimic glass lizard Anguidae Possibly extirpated
925-2284.jpg Ophisaurus ventralis eastern glass lizard Anguidae Moderate
Hemidactylus garnotii - Mindanao, Philippines 5.jpg Hemidactylus garnotii Indo-Pacific gecko Gekkonidae Exotic
Mediterranean house gecko.JPG Hemidactylus turcicus Mediterranean house gecko Gekkonidae Exotic
Anolis carolinensis by Jeff Heard.jpg Anolis carolinensis carolinensis green anole Dactyloidae Lowest
Anolis sagrei.jpg Anolis sagrei carolinensis brown anole Dactyloidae Exotic
TexasHornedLizard.jpg Phrynosoma cornutum Texas horned lizard Phrynosomatidae Exotic
Sceloporus undulatus1.jpg Sceloporus undulatus eastern fence lizard Phrynosomatidae Low
Skink.jpg Plestiodon anthracinus coal skink Scincidae High
Eumeces egregius1.jpg Plestiodon egregius mole skink Scincidae Low/
Possibly declining
Fivelined skink.jpg Plestiodon fasciatus five-lined skink Scincidae Lowest
Eumeces inexpectatus skink.jpg Plestiodon inexpectatus southeastern five-lined skink Scincidae High
Kaldari Eumeces laticeps 02.jpg Plestiodon laticeps broad-headed skink Scincidae Low
Little Brown Skink Scincella lateralis.jpg Scincella lateralis ground skink
little brown skink
Scincidae Low
Aspidoscelis sexlineata (male).jpg Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus eastern six-lined racerunner Teiidae Moderate

Snakes

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.

Image Scientific name Common name Family Venomous to humans Conservation
concern
Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix CDC-a.png Agkistrodon contortrix eastern copperhead Viperidae Yes Lowest
Agkistrodon-piscivorus.jpg Agkistrodon conanti Florida cottonmouth
green-tailed moccasin
Viperidae Yes Lowest
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma.jpg Agkistrodon piscivorus northern cottonmouth
water moccasin
Viperidae Yes Lowest
Carphophis amoenus amoenus.jpg Carphophis amoenus amoenus eastern worm snake Colubridae No Lowest
Midwestern worm snake.jpg Carphophis amoenus helenae midwestern worm snake Colubridae No Lowest
Cemophora coccinea copei northern scarlet snake Colubridae No Lowest
Coluber constrictorPCCP20030613-1137B.jpg Coluber constrictor constrictor northern black racer Colubridae No Low
Blackracer111805.JPG Coluber constrictor priapus southern black racer Colubridae No Low
Crotalus adamanteus (5).jpg Crotalus adamanteus eastern diamondback rattlesnake Viperidae Yes High
Timber Rattlesnake Image 004.jpg Crotalus horridus timber rattlesnake
canebrake rattlesnake
Viperidae Yes Low
Diadophis punctatus edwardsii crop.jpg Diadophis punctatus edwardsii northern ringneck snake Colubridae No Lowest
06-08-29 SRingneckSnakeGdsd.jpg Diadophis punctatus punctatus southern ringneck snake Colubridae No Lowest
Diadophis punctatus01.jpg Diadophis punctatus stictogenys Mississippi ringneck snake Colubridae No Lowest
Eastern Indigo Snake.jpg Drymarchon couperi eastern indigo snake Colubridae No Highest,
Possibly extirpated
Elaphe obsoleta spiloides Tropicario.JPG Elaphe obsoleta spiloides gray rat snake Colubridae No Lowest
Farancia abacura abacura juvenile 2.jpg Farancia abacura abacura eastern mud snake Colubridae No Low
Western Mud Snake.jpg Farancia abacura reinwardtii western mud snake Colubridae No Low
Rainbow Snake taken in Southern Georgia in June 2003 2.jpg Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma rainbow snake Colubridae No Highest
Heterodon platirhinos2.jpg Heterodon platirhinos eastern hognose snake Colubridae No Moderate
H Simus.jpg Heterodon simus southern hognose snake Colubridae No Highest,
Possibly extirpated
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster.jpg Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster prairie kingsnake Colubridae No High
Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata.jpg Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata mole kingsnake Colubridae No Moderate
G-Bartolotti juv SK.jpg Lampropeltis elapsoides scarlet kingsnake Colubridae No Low
Lampropeltis getula getula.jpg Lampropeltis getula getula eastern kingsnake Colubridae No High
Speckled King Snake.jpg Lampropeltis getula holbrooki speckled kingsnake Colubridae No High
Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula niger).jpg Lampropeltis nigra black kingsnake Colubridae No Low
Tennessee milksnake.jpg Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum eastern milk snake Colubridae No Moderate
Red milk snake.JPG Lampropeltis triangulum syspila red milk snake Colubridae No Moderate
Masticophis flagellum flagellum.jpg Masticophis flagellum flagellum eastern coachwhip Colubridae No Moderate
Coral 009.jpg Micrurus fulvius eastern coral snake Elapidae Yes High
Nerodia clarkii clarkii Gulf salt marsh snake Colubridae No Moderate
Mississippi Green Water Snake.jpg Nerodia cyclopion Mississippi green water snake Colubridae No Moderate
Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster redbelly water snake Colubridae No Lowest
Nerodia erythrogasterPCSL03705B.jpg Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster yellowbelly water snake Colubridae No Lowest
BandedWaterSnakeFeedingCoosaRiver.JPG Nerodia fasciata confluens broad-banded water snake Colubridae No Lowest
Nerodia fasciata fasciata southern banded water snake Colubridae No Lowest
Nerodia fasciata pictiventris.jpg Nerodia fasciata pictiventris Florida banded water snake Colubridae No Lowest
Florida Green Water Snake 2.jpg Nerodia floridana Florida green water snake Colubridae No Moderate
Daimondback Watersnake.jpg Nerodia rhombifer diamondback water snake Colubridae No Low
Nerodia sipedonPCSL02111B1.jpg Nerodia sipedon pleuralis midland water snake Colubridae No Lowest
Brown Water Snake.jpg Nerodia taxispilota brown water snake Colubridae No Low
Rough Green Snake 0589.jpg Opheodrys aestivus rough green snake Colubridae No Low
Kornnatter.jpg Pantherophis guttatus guttatus corn snake Colubridae No Moderate
Black Rat Snake2.jpg Pantherophis obsoletus black rat snake Colubridae No Lowest
Black Pine Snake.jpg Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi black pine snake Colubridae No Highest
Washington DC Zoo - Pituophis melanoleucus 1.jpg Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus northern pine snake Colubridae No High
G-Bartolotti FL pine.jpg Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus Florida pine snake Colubridae No High
Gulf Crayfish Snake.jpg Regina rigida sinicola Gulf crayfish snake Colubridae No Lowest
Regina septemvittataPCCA20060513-3674B.jpg Regina septemvittata queen snake Colubridae No Moderate
G-Bartolotti pinewoods levy.jpg Rhadinaea flavilata pine woods snake Colubridae No Moderate
Seminatrix pygaea.jpg Seminatrix pygaea pygaea North Florida swamp snake Colubridae No High
Sistrurus miliaris barbouri 2.jpg Sistrurus miliarius barbouri dusky pigmy rattlesnake
Florida ground rattlesnake
Viperidae Yes Moderate
Sistrurus miliaris miliaris CDC.png Sistrurus miliarius miliarius Carolina pigmy rattlesnake
ground rattlesnake
Viperidae Yes Moderate
Sistrurus miliarius streckeri.jpg Sistrurus miliarius streckeri western pigmy rattlesnake
ground rattlesnake
Viperidae Yes Moderate
Storeriadekayidekayi.jpg Storeria dekayi dekayi northern brown snake Colubridae No Lowest
Marsh Brown Snake.jpg Storeria dekayi limnetes marsh brown snake Colubridae No Lowest
Storeria dekayi 1.jpg Storeria dekayi wrightorum midland brown snake Colubridae No Lowest
Redbelly Snake - Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata.jpg Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata northern redbelly snake Colubridae No Lowest
Southeastern Crown Snake.jpg Tantilla coronata southeastern crown snake Colubridae No Low
EasternRibbonSnake.jpg Thamnophis saurita saurita eastern ribbon snake Colubridae No Low
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Wooster.jpg Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis common garter snake Colubridae No Low
Virginia striatula.jpg Virginia striatula smooth earth snake Colubridae No Lowest
Virginia valeriae elegans - Western Smooth Earth Snake.PNG Virginia valeriae elegans western earth snake Colubridae No Lowest
Virginia valeriae valeriae eastern earth snake Colubridae No Lowest

Turtles

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

Image Scientific name Common name Family Conservation
concern
Loggerhead sea turtle.jpg Caretta caretta loggerhead sea turtle Cheloniidae Highest
Green turtle swimming over coral reefs in Kona.jpg Chelonia mydas green sea turtle Cheloniidae Highest
Kemp's Ridley sea turtle nesting.JPG Lepidochelys kempii Atlantic ridley sea turtle Cheloniidae Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
Chelydra serpentina USGS.jpg Chelydra serpentina common snapping turtle Chelydridae Lowest
Alligator snapping turtle.jpg Macrochelys temminckii alligator snapping turtle Chelydridae Wheeler Wildlife Refuge lists as endangered
LeatherbackTurtle.jpg Dermochelys coriacea leatherback sea turtle Dermochelyidae Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta).jpg Chrysemys picta picta eastern painted turtle Emydidae Lowest
A3 Southern painted turtle.jpg Chrysemys picta dorsalis southern painted turtle Emydidae Lowest
Male Painted Turtle Basking Mirror Image.jpg Chrysemys picta marginata midland painted turtle Emydidae Lowest
Deirochelys reticularia.jpg Deirochelys reticularia reticularia eastern chicken turtle Emydidae Low
Barbour's Map Turtle kame.jpg Graptemys barbouri Barbour's map turtle Emydidae High
Graptemys ernsti 18Jun09 EscambiaRiver 2z.JPG Graptemys ernsti Escambia map turtle Emydidae Moderate
Northern Map Turtle, sunning.jpg Graptemys geographica northern map turtle Emydidae Low
Graptemys nigrinoda.jpg Graptemys nigrinoda delticola delta map turtle
southern black-knobbed sawback
Emydidae Moderate
Graptemys nigrinoda hatchlings.jpg Graptemys nigrinoda nigrinoda black-knobbed map turtle
northern black-knobbed sawback
Emydidae Moderate
Graptemys ouachitensis hatchling.jpg Graptemys ouachitensis Ouachita map turtle Emydidae Lowest
Alabama Map Turtle.jpg Graptemys pulchra Alabama map turtle Emydidae Moderate
Diamondback turtle adult female.jpg Malaclemys terrapin pileata Mississippi diamondback terrapin Emydidae Highest
Alabama red-bellied turtle US FWS cropped.jpg Pseudemys alabamensis Alabama red-bellied cooter
(Designated as official state reptile)
Emydidae Highest/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
Pseudemys concinna concinna.jpg Pseudemys concinna concinna eastern river cooter Emydidae Lowest
Painted turtle f1.jpg Pseudemys concinna floridana coastal plain cooter Emydidae Lowest
RedEaredSlider05.jpg Trachemys scripta elegans red-eared slider Emydidae Lowest
Trachemys scripta scripta al sole.jpg Trachemys scripta scripta yellow-bellied slider Emydidae Lowest
In go the legs.jpg Terrapene carolina carolina eastern box turtle Emydidae Low
Terrapene carolina major 2.jpg Terrapene carolina major Gulf Coast box turtle Emydidae Low
Three-toed Box Turtle.jpg Terrapene carolina triunguis three-toed box turtle Emydidae Low
Kinosternon subrubrum.jpg Kinosternon subrubrum eastern mud turtle Kinosternidae Lowest
Sternothernus minor.jpg Sternotherus minor minor loggerhead musk turtle Kinosternidae Low
Sternotherus minor peltifer Jungtier ca. 2 Monate alt.jpg Sternotherus minor peltifer stripe-necked musk turtle Kinosternidae Low
Sternotherus depressus.jpg Sternotherus depressus flattened musk turtle Kinosternidae High
Stinkpot Turtle.jpg Sternotherus odoratus common musk turtle
stinkpot turtle
Kinosternidae Lowest
Gopherus polyphemus.jpg Gopherus polyphemus gopher tortoise Testudinidae High
Floridasoftshellturtle-cropped.jpg Apalone ferox Florida softshell turtle Trionychidae Moderate
Apalone mutica smooth softshell turtle Trionychidae Low
Apalone spinifera.jpg Apalone spinifera spiny softshell turtle Trionychidae Low
3959 aquaimages.jpg Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata Atlantic hawksbill Cheloniidae Highest/U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists as endangered
kids search engine
List of reptiles of Alabama Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.