List of reptiles of Kansas facts for kids

Kansas is home to many amazing animals, including a variety of reptiles! Reptiles are cold-blooded animals that have scales or scutes. They include snakes, turtles, and lizards. This article will tell you about the different kinds of reptiles you can find living in the US state of Kansas.

Turtles of Kansas

Kansas has 15 different kinds of turtles. Turtles are known for their hard shells that protect them from danger.

Snapping Turtles

These turtles have powerful jaws and can snap quickly!

• Alligator snapping turtle
• Common snapping turtle

Mud and Musk Turtles

These smaller turtles often live in muddy waters. The common musk turtle is sometimes called a "stinkpot" because it can release a smelly liquid when it feels threatened.

• Common musk turtle (stinkpot)
• Yellow mud turtle

Basking and Box Turtles

This group includes turtles that like to bask in the sun and those with dome-shaped shells that can close up like a box.

• Painted turtle
• Common map turtle
• Ouachita map turtle
• False map turtle
• River cooter
• Ornate box turtle
• Eastern box turtle
• Pond slider turtle

Softshell Turtles

Unlike other turtles, softshell turtles have flat, leathery shells instead of hard ones.

• Spiny softshell turtle
• Smooth softshell turtle

Lizards of Kansas

You can find 16 different types of lizards in Kansas. Lizards are reptiles that usually have four legs, a tail, and scales.

Glass Lizards

These lizards are special because they don't have legs, so they look a lot like snakes! But they are indeed lizards.

• Slender glass lizard

Collared and Leopard Lizards

These lizards are often colorful and quick.

• Eastern collared lizard

Geckos

Geckos are known for their sticky feet that help them climb. The Mediterranean gecko was brought to Kansas from other parts of the world.

• Mediterranean gecko (introduced)

Wall and True Lizards

Some lizards from other countries have also made Kansas their home.

• Western green lizard (introduced)
• Italian wall lizard (introduced)

Spiny Lizards

These lizards often have spiky scales.

• Lesser earless lizard
• Texas horned lizard
• Prairie lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus)

Skinks

Skinks are smooth, shiny lizards that often have short legs.

• Coal skink
• Skin colored black dotted skink
• Five-lined skink
• Broadhead skink
• Great Plains skink
• Southern prairie skink (Plestiodon obtusirostris)
• Northern prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis)
• Ground skink

Whiptails

Whiptail lizards are known for their long, slender tails and fast movements.

• Six-lined racerunner

Snakes of Kansas

Snakes are reptiles without legs. They move by slithering and can be found in many different habitats across Kansas. It's important to know which snakes are venomous and which are not.

Venomous Snakes

Venomous snakes can inject a special liquid called venom when they bite. This venom can be harmful to humans, so it's best to stay away from these snakes and never try to touch them.

• Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
• Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
• Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) (very rare)
• Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) - This species needs special protection.
• Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
• Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)

Non-Venomous Snakes

Most snakes in Kansas are not venomous. This means their bites are not dangerous to humans, though it's still best to observe all wild animals from a distance.

• Eastern glossy snake (Arizona elegans)
• Western worm snake (Carphophis vermis)
• Eastern racer (Coluber constrictor)
• Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus)
• Western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus)
• Eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
• Night snake (Hypsiglena torquata) - This snake has special teeth and a mild venom, but it's not considered dangerous to people.
• Prairie kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster)
• Common kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)
• Milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
• New Mexico blind snake (Leptotyphlops dissectus)
• Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)
• Plainbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)
• Diamondback water snake (Nerodia rhombifer)
• Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon)
• Rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
• Great Plains rat snake (Pantherophis emoryi)
• Western rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
• Gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer)
• Graham's crayfish snake (Regina grahamii)
• Longnose snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)
• Ground snake (Sonora semiannulata)
• Brown snake (Storeria dekayi)
• Redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) - This species needs special protection.
• Flathead snake (Tantilla gracilis)
• Plains blackhead snake (Tantilla nigriceps)
• Checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus)
• Western ribbon snake (Thamnophis proximus)
• Plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix)
• Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
• Lined snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum)
• Rough earth snake (Virginia striatula)
• Smooth earth snake (Virginia valeriae)