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List of reptiles of Massachusetts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of reptiles of Massachusetts. It includes all reptiles currently found in the US state of Massachusetts in alphabetical order of scientific name. It does not include species found only in captivity.

Name Scientific name 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 Very rare, endangered in the state; 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; spotty distribution, but found in all counties except 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 Very rare, endangered in the Commonwealth; found only in Southern Worcester County, the Connecticut River Valley and Essex County
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
Name Scientific name Order Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Loggerhead sea turtle
Caretta caretta Turtle Cheloniidae Very rare, located in coastal waters of the southeast; one recorded in Essex County in 2008; endangered federally and in the Commonwealth
7
Green sea turtle
Chelonia mydas Turtle Cheloniidae Very rare, reported from Dukes, Nantucket, and Cape Cod; 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 Very rare, coastal southeastern waters; endangered
7
Blanding's turtle
Emydoidea blandingii Turtle Emydidae Rare, scattered populations in east; threatened in the Commonwealth
7
Hawksbill sea turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata Turtle Cheloniidae Rare vagrant, recorded in 1909, 1968, and 1989; critically endangered
7
Wood turtle
Glyptemys insculpta Turtle Emydidae Uncommon, found 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; critically 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, critically endangered globally
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, most likely common
7

Lizards

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Name Scientific name 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 now absent from the Commonwealth due to habitat loss
7
Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus Lizard Lacertidae Introduced; recorded only in Suffolk County, unconfirmed reports in Middlesex County.

References

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