This list of reptiles of Texas includes the snakes, lizards, crocodilians, and turtles native to the U.S. state of Texas.
Texas has a large range of habitats, from swamps, coastal marshes and pine forests in the east, rocky hills and limestone karst in the center, desert in the south and west, mountains in the far west, and grassland prairie in the north. This vast contrast in biomes makes Texas home to an extremely wide variety of herpetofauna. Its central position in the United States means that species found primarily in either the western or eastern parts of the country often have their ranges meeting in the state. Its proximity to Mexico is such that many species found there and into Central America range as far north as Texas. The abundance of reptiles makes the state a prime area for research, and most species found in Texas have been well studied.
Texas state law protects several reptile species; threatened species are denoted with a (T) and endangered species are denoted with an (E). The climate of Texas has also led to some species being introduced and establishing a permanent population, denoted with an (I). __TOC__ + Least-concern species Vulnerable species Endangered species Critically endangered Invasive species
Crocodilians
+PictureScientific nameCommon nameFamilyConservation status Alligator mississippiensis American alligator Alligatoridae IUCN (LC)
Lizards
+PictureScientific nameCommon nameFamilyConservation status Gerrhonotus infernalis Texas alligator lizard Anguidae IUCN (LC) Ophisaurus attenuatus Western slender glass lizard Anguidae IUCN (LC) Anolis carolinensis Green anole Dactyloidae IUCN (LC) Anolis sagrei Brown anole DactyloidaeIUCN (LC)Texas (I) Crotaphytus collaris Eastern collared lizard Crotaphytidae Crotaphytus reticulatus Reticulated collared lizard CrotaphytidaeIUCN (VU)Texas (T) Gambelia wislizenii Longnose leopard lizard Crotaphytidae IUCN (LC) Coleonyx brevis Texas banded gecko Gekkonidae IUCN (LC) Coleonyx reticulatus Reticulated gecko GekkonidaeIUCN (LC)Texas (T) Cyrtopodion scabrum Rough-tailed gecko GekkonidaeIUCN (LC)Texas (I) Hemidactylus frenatus Asian house gecko GekkonidaeIUCN (LC)Texas (I) Hemidactylus turcicus Mediterranean gecko GekkonidaeIUCN (LC)Texas (I) Ctenosaura pectinata Mexican spinytail iguana IguanidaeTexas (I) Cophosaurus texanus Greater earless lizard Phrynosomatidae IUCN (LC) Holbrookia lacerata Northern spot-tailed earless lizard PhrynosomatidaeIUCN (NT) Holbrookia maculata maculata Great Plains earless lizard Phrynosomatidae Holbrookia maculata flavilenta Chihuahuan earless lizard Phrynosomatidae Holbrookia maculata perspicua Prairie earless lizard Phrynosomatidae Holbrookia propinqua Keeled earless lizard Phrynosomatidae Holbrookia subcaudalis Southern spot-tailed earless lizard Phrynosomatidae Phrynosoma cornutum Texas horned lizard PhrynosomatidaeIUCN (LC)Texas (T) Phrynosoma hernandesi Greater short-horned lizard PhrynosomatidaeIUCN (LC)Texas (T) Phrynosoma modestum Roundtail horned lizard Phrynosomatidae IUCN (LC) Sceloporus arenicolus Dunes sagebrush lizard PhrynosomatidaeIUCN (VU)Texas (T) Sceloporus bimaculosus Twin-spotted spiny lizard Phrynosomatidae Sceloporus consobrinus Prairie lizard Phrynosomatidae Sceloporus cowlesi Southwestern fence lizard Phrynosomatidae Sceloporus cyanogenys Blue spiny lizard Phrynosomatidae IUCN (LC) Sceloporus grammicus Mesquite lizard Phrynosomatidae IUCN (LC) Sceloporus merriami annulatus Big Bend Canyon lizard Phrynosomatidae Sceloporus merriami longipunctatus Presidio Canyon lizard Phrynosomatidae Sceloporus merriami Canyon lizard Phrynosomatidae Sceloporus olivaceus Texas spiny lizard Phrynosomatidae IUCN (LC) Sceloporus poinsettii Crevice spiny lizard Phrynosomatidae Sceloporus marmoratus Rosebelly lizard Phrynosomatidae IUCN (LC) Urosaurus ornatus ornatus Texas tree lizard Phrynosomatidae IUCN (LC) Urosaurus ornatus schmidti Big Bend tree lizard Phrynosomatidae Uta stansburiana Eastern side-blotched lizard Phrynosomatidae Plestiodon anthracinus pluvialis Southern coal skink Scincidae Plestiodon fasciatus Five-lined skink Scincidae Plestiodon laticeps Broadhead skink Scincidae IUCN (LC) Plestiodon multivirgatus epipleurotus Variable skink Scincidae Plestiodon obsoletus Great Plains Skink Scincidae IUCN (LC) Plestiodon septentrionalis obtusirostris Southern prairie skink Scincidae Plestiodon tetragrammus brevilineatus Short-lined skink Scincidae Plestiodon tetragrammus tetragrammus Four-lined skink Scincidae Scincella lateralis Little brown skink Scincidae IUCN (LC) Aspidoscelis exsanguis Chihuahuan spotted whiptail Teiidae IUCN (LC) Aspidoscelis gularis Texas spotted whiptail Teiidae IUCN (LC) Aspidoscelis inornata heptagramma Little striped whiptail Teiidae Aspidoscelis laredoensis Laredo striped whiptail Teiidae IUCN (LC) Aspidoscelis marmorata marmorata Western marbled whiptail Teiidae Aspidoscelis marmorata reticuloriens Eastern marbled whiptail Teiidae Aspidoscelis neomexicana New Mexico whiptail Teiidae IUCN (LC) Aspidoscelis sexlineata stephensae Texas yellow-headed racerunner Teiidae Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis Prairie racerunner Teiidae Aspidoscelis scalaris Plateau spotted whiptail Teiidae Aspidoscelis tesselata Checkered whiptail Teiidae IUCN (LC) Aspidoscelis uniparens Desert grassland whiptail Teiidae IUCN (LC)
Snakes
+PictureScientific nameCommon nameFamilyConservation status Indotyphlops braminus Brahminy blindsnake TyphlopidaeIUCN (LC) Rena dulcis dulcis Plains threadsnake Leptotyphlopidae IUCN (LC) Rena dulcis rubellum South Texas threadsnake Leptotyphlopidae Rena humilis segregus Trans-Pecos threadsnake Leptotyphlopidae Arizona elegans arenicola Texas glossy snake Colubridae Arizona elegans elegans Kansas glossy snake Colubridae Arizona elegans philipi Painted Desert glossy snake Colubridae Bogertophis subocularis Trans-Pecos ratsnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Carphophis vermis Western wormsnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Cemophora coccinea Scarletsnake Colubridae Cemophora lineri Texas scarletsnake ColubridaeTexas (T) Coluber constrictor anthicus Buttermilk racer Colubridae Coluber constrictor etheridgei Tan racer Colubridae Coluber constrictor flaviventris Eastern yellowbelly racer Colubridae Coluber constrictor oaxaca Mexican racer Colubridae Coluber constrictor priapus Southern black racer Colubridae Coniophanes imperialis Black-striped snake ColubridaeTexas (T) Diadophis punctatus arnyi Prairie ringneck snake Colubridae Diadophis punctatus regalis Regal ringneck snake Colubridae Diadophis punctatus stictogenys Mississippi ringneck snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Drymarchon corais erebennus Texas indigo snake ColubridaeTexas (T) Drymobius margaritiferus Speckled racer ColubridaeTexas (T) Farancia abacura Mud snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Ficimia streckeri Mexican hooknose snake Colubridae Gyalopion canum Chihuahuan hook-nosed snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Haldea striatula Rough earthsnake Colubridae Heterodon kennerlyi Mexican hognose snake Colubridae Heterodon nasicus gloydi Dusty hognose snake Colubridae Heterodon nasicus nasicus Western hognose snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Heterodon platirhinos Eastern hognose snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Hypsiglena jani Texas night snake Colubridae Lampropeltis alterna Gray-banded kingsnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Lampropeltis calligaster Prairie kingsnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Lampropeltis holbrooki Speckled kingsnake Colubridae Lampropeltis splendida Desert kingsnake Colubridae Lampropeltis annulata Mexican milksnake Colubridae Lampropeltis gentilis Western milksnake Colubridae Leptodeira septentrionalis Northern cat-eyed snake ColubridaeIUCN (LC)Texas (T) Liodytes rigida Gulf swampsnake Colubridae Masticophis flagellum flagellum Eastern coachwhip Colubridae IUCN (LC) Masticophis flagellum testaceus Western coachwhip Colubridae Masticophis schotti schotti Schott's whipsnake Colubridae Masticophis schotti ruthveni Ruthven's whipsnake Colubridae Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus Striped whipsnake Colubridae Masticophis taeniatus girardi Central Texas whipsnake Colubridae Nerodia clarkii Saltmarsh watersnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Nerodia cyclopion Mississippi green watersnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Nerodia erythrogaster Plain-bellied watersnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Nerodia fasciata confluens Broad-banded watersnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Nerodia fasciata pictiventris Florida watersnake ColubridaeTexas (I) Nerodia harteri Brazos watersnake ColubridaeIUCN (NT)Texas (T) Nerodia paucimaculata Concho watersnake ColubridaeIUCN (NT)Texas (T) Nerodia rhombifer Diamondback watersnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Nerodia sipedon pleuralis Midland watersnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Opheodrys aestivus Rough green snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Opheodrys vernalis Smooth green snake ColubridaeIUCN (LC)Texas (T) Pantherophis bairdi Baird's ratsnake Colubridae Pantherophis emoryi Great Plains ratsnake Colubridae Pantherophis obsoletus Western ratsnake Colubridae Pantherophis slowinskii Slowinski's cornsnake Colubridae Pituophis catenifer affinis Sonoran gopher snake Colubridae Pituophis catenifer sayi Bull snake Colubridae Pituophis ruthveni Louisiana pinesnake ColubridaeIUCN (EN)Texas (T) Regina grahamii Graham's crayfish snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus Texas longnose snake Colubridae Salvadora deserticola Big Bend patch-nose snake ColubridaeTexas (T) Salvadora grahamiae grahamiae Mountain patch-nose snake Colubridae Salvadora grahamiae lineata Texas patch-nose snake Colubridae Sonora semiannulata Ground snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Storeria dekayi limnetes Marsh brown snake Colubridae Storeria dekayi texana Texas brown snake Colubridae Storeria occipitomaculata Redbelly snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Tantilla atriceps Mexican blackhead snake Colubridae Tantilla cucullata Big Bend blackhead snake Colubridae Tantilla gracilis Flathead snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Tantilla hobartsmithi Southwestern blackhead snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Tantilla nigriceps Plains blackhead snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis Blackneck garter snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Thamnophis marcianus Checkered garter snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Thamnophis proximus diabolicus Arid land ribbon snake Colubridae Thamnophis proximus orarius Gulf Coast ribbon snake Colubridae Thamnophis proximus proximus Western ribbon snake Colubridae Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus Redstripe ribbon snake Colubridae Thamnophis radix Plains garter snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Thamnophis sirtalis annectens Texas garter snake Colubridae Thamnophis sirtalis dorsalis New Mexico garter snake Colubridae Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Eastern garter snake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Trimorphodon vilkinsonii Texas lyresnake ColubridaeIUCN (LC)Texas (T) Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum Texas lined snake Colubridae Virginia valeriae Smooth earthsnake Colubridae IUCN (LC) Micrurus tener Texas coral snake Elapidae IUCN (LC) Agkistrodon contortrix Eastern copperhead Viperidae IUCN (LC) Agkistrodon laticinctus Broad-banded copperhead Viperidae Agkistrodon piscivorus Northern cottonmouth Viperidae Crotalus atrox Western diamondback rattlesnake Viperidae IUCN (LC) Crotalus horridus Timber rattlesnake ViperidaeIUCN (LC)Texas (T) Crotalus lepidus klauberi Banded rock rattlesnake Viperidae Crotalus lepidus lepidus Mottled rock rattlesnake Viperidae IUCN (LC) Crotalus molossus molossus Northern black-tailed rattlesnake Viperidae IUCN (LC) Crotalus scutulatus Mojave rattlesnake Viperidae IUCN (LC) Crotalus viridis viridis Prairie rattlesnake Viperidae IUCN (LC) Sistrurus tergeminus edwardsii Desert massasauga Viperidae Sistrurus tergeminus tergeminus Plains massasauga Viperidae Sistrurus miliarius streckeri Western pygmy rattlesnake Viperidae
Turtles