Reptiles of
Louisiana [USA]

Related checklists:  USA

Bibliography of the reptiles of Louisiana Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Louisiana Introduced species
Home - Taxonomy - Geography - Biodiversity - Literature - Purchase RepFocus Recent updates
Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. www.repfocus.dk (Compilation date: 14th April, 2023).

Checklist
General remarks: The list includes only formally described species. Newly discovered, but still unnamed species are excluded. However, unnamed species or species unassigned to species level are included, if they are the only representatives of their genus in the region. Species counts exclude extinct and introduced species. Doubtful records, typically older voucher specimens of uncertain origin, have been excluded if considered questionable, as are records based on sources considered unreliable or controversial.
Note: Your comments to the checklist (omissions, errors, etc.) are welcomed, preferably if they are provided with reliable references. If possible, please attach a pdf file of the relevant reference to an email addressed to:
Crocodilians (Crocodylia)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Alligatoridae (Alligators and Caimans)
Genus Alligator (Alligators)
 
Alligator mississippiensis

American Alligator

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Trutnau & Sommerlad 2006

Lizards (Sauria)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Anguidae (Slowworms, etc.)
Genus Ophisaurus (North American Glass Lizards)
 
Ophisaurus attenuatus

Slender Glass Lizard

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Wermuth 1969
 
Ophisaurus ventralis

Eastern Glass Lizard

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Holman 1971
 Family Anolidae (Anoles)
Genus Anolis (Typical Anoles)
 
Anolis carolinensis

Common Green Anole

Dundee & Rossman 1989
 Family Phrynosomatidae (North American Lesser Iguanas)
Genus Sceloporus (Northern Spiny Lizards)
 
Sceloporus consobrinus

Prairie Lizard

Leache & Reeder 2002
 Family Scincidae (Skinks)
Genus Plestiodon (Blue-tailed Skinks)
 
Plestiodon anthracinus

Coal Skink

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989
 
Plestiodon fasciatus

North American Five-lined Skink

Dundee & Rossman 1989
 
Plestiodon inexpectatus

Southeastern Five-lined Skink

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Steiner 1986
 
Plestiodon laticeps

North American Broad-headed Skink

Cooper 1988 Dundee & Rossman 1989
 
Plestiodon septentrionalis

Prairie Skink

Dundee & Rossman 1989
Genus Scincella (South Asian and American Ground Skinks)
 
Scincella lateralis

North American Ground Skink

Brooks 1975 Dundee & Rossman 1989
 Family Teiidae (Greater Tejus)
Genus Aspidoscelis (Northern Whiptails)
 
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus

Six-lined Whiptail

Dundee & Rossman 1989

Snakes (Serpentes)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Colubridae (Typical Snakes or Colubrids)
Genus Carphophis (North American Worm Snakes)
 
Carphophis amoenus

Eastern Worm Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005
 
Carphophis vermis

Western Worm Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Cemophora (North American Scarlet Snakes)
 
Cemophora coccinea

Eastern Scarlet Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Williams 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Coluber (North American Racer)
 
Coluber constrictor

North American Racer

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Diadophis (Ring-necked Snake)
 
Diadophis punctatus

Ring-necked Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Farancia (American Mud and Rainbow Snakes)
 
Farancia abacura

American Mud Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Farancia erytrogramma

Rainbow Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Mitchell 1982 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Haldea (Rough Earth Snake)
 
Haldea striatula

Rough Earth Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Heterodon (North American Hognose Snakes)
 
Heterodon platirhinos

Eastern Hognose Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Lampropeltis (King Snakes and Milk Snakes)
 
Lampropeltis calligaster

Prarie Kingsnake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Ernst & Ernst 2003 Markel 1990 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis elapsoides

Scarlet Kingsnake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 [part] [as triangulum] Ruane 2015 Ruane, Bryson, Pyron & Burbrink 2014
 
Lampropeltis gentilis

Northwestern Milk Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 [part] [as triangulum] Ruane 2015 Ruane, Bryson, Pyron & Burbrink 2014
 
Lampropeltis holbrooki

Speckled Kingsnake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis rhombomaculata

Brown King Snake

Behler & King 1979 Conant & Collins 1998 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Ernst & Ernst 2003 Markel 1990
 
Lampropeltis triangulum

Eastern Milk Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 [part] Markel 1990 Ruane, Bryson, Pyron & Burbrink 2014 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Liodytes (North American Swamp Snakes)
 
Liodytes rigida

Glossy Crayfish Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Lawson 1987 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Masticophis (North American Whip Snakes and Coachwhips)
 
Masticophis flagellum

Common Coachwhip

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Nerodia (North American Water Snakes)
 
Nerodia clarkii

Salt Marsh Water Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Lawson 1987 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia cyclopion

Western Green Water Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Lawson 1987 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia erythrogaster

Plain-bellied Water Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Lawson 1987 McCranie 1990 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia fasciata

North American Banded Water Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Lawson 1987 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia rhombifer

Diamondback Water Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Lawson 1987 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia sipedon

Northern Water Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Lawson 1987 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Opheodrys (North American Green Snakes)
 
Opheodrys aestivus

Rough Green Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Pantherophis (North American Rat Snakes)
 
Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Grey Rat Snake

Burbrink 2001 [as spiloides] Dowling 1952 [as spiloides] Schulz 1996 [as spiloides]
 
Pantherophis emoryi

Great Plains Rat Snake

Behler & King 1979 Burbrink 2002 Dundee & Rossman 1989
 
Pantherophis guttatus

Red Corn Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dowling 1952 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Schulz 1996 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Pantherophis obsoletus

Western Rat Snake

Behler & King 1979 Burbrink 2001 Dowling 1952 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Schulz 1996 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Pituophis (Bullsnakes, Pine Snakes and Gopher Snakes)
 
Pituophis melanoleucus

Common Pine Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Sweet & Parker 1990
 
Pituophis ruthveni

Louisiana Pine Snake

Adams, Pierce, Rudolph, Ryberg & Hibbitts 2017 Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Regina (Queen Snakes)
 
Regina grahamii

Mississippi Crayfish Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Lawson 1987 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Rhadinaea (Graceful Brown Snakes)
 
Rhadinaea flavilata

Pine Woods Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Storeria (North American Brown Snakes)
 
Storeria dekayi

Common Brown Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Storeria occipitomaculata

North American Red-bellied Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Tantilla (American Centipede Snakes)
 
Tantilla coronata

Southeastern Centipede Snake

Behler & King 1979 Cole & Hardy 1981 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Tantilla gracilis

Flat-headed Centipede Snake

Cole & Hardy 1981 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wilson & Mata-Silva 2014 Wilson & Mata-Silva 2015 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Thamnophis (North American Garter Snakes and Ribbon Snakes)
 
Thamnophis proximus

Western Ribbon Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Rossman, Ford & Seigel 1996 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Thamnophis saurita

Eastern Ribbon Snake

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Rossman 1970
 
Thamnophis sirtalis

Common Garter Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Virginia (Smooth Earth Snake)
 
Virginia valeriae

Smooth Earth Snake

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Powell, Collins & Fish 1992 Wright & Wright 1952
 Family Elapidae [part 1: terrestrial species] (Cobras, Mambas, etc.)
Genus Micrurus (American Coral Snakes)
 
Micrurus fulvius

Harlequin Coral Snake

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Ernst 1992 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Micrurus tener

Texas Coral Snake

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Roze 1996 Wright & Wright 1952
 Family Viperidae (Vipers)
Genus Agkistrodon (American Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Cantils)
 
Agkistrodon contortrix

Eastern Copperhead

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Ernst 1992 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Gloyd & Conant 1990 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Agkistrodon piscivorus

Northern Cottonmouth

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Ernst 1992 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Gloyd & Conant 1990 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Crotalus (Typical Rattlesnakes)
 
Crotalus adamanteus

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Ernst 1992 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Crotalus horridus

Timber Rattlesnake

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Ernst 1992 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Sistrurus (Pygmy Rattlesnakes)
 
Sistrurus miliarius

North American Pygmy Rattlesnake

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Ernst 1992 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Wright & Wright 1952

Turtles (Testudines)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Cheloniidae (Hard-shelled Sea Turtles)
Genus Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle)
 
Caretta caretta

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)
 
Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Selman, King, Stultz, Cassady, Magro, Credeur & Wiebe 2014
Genus Eretmochelys (Hawksbill Sea Turtle)
 
Eretmochelys imbricata

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989
Genus Lepidochelys (Ridley Sea Turtles)
 
Lepidochelys kempii

Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Chelydridae (American Snapping Turtles)
Genus Chelydra (American Snapping Turtles)
 
Chelydra serpentina

North American Snapping Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Macrochelys (Alligator Snapping Turtles)
 
Macrochelys temminckii

Western Alligator Snapping Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
Genus Dermochelys (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
 
Dermochelys coriacea

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989
 Family Emydidae (Western Pond Turtles)
Genus Chrysemys (American Painted Turtle)
 
Chrysemys picta

American Painted Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Deirochelys (Chicken Turtle)
 
Deirochelys reticularia

Chicken Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Buhlmann, Gibbons & Jackson 2008 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Graptemys (Map Turtles)
 
Graptemys geographica

Northern Map Turtle

Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Graptemys oculifera

Ringed Map Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Jones & Selman 2009 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Graptemys ouachitensis

Ouachita Map Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Brown, Temple-Miller, Roosenburg & White 2012 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Graptemys pearlensis

Pearl River Map Turtle

Ennen, Lovich & Jones 2016 Ennen, Lovich, Kreiser, Selman & Qualls 2010 Fritz & Havas 2006 [as gibbonsi] Lovich, Selman & McCoy 2009 [as gibbonsi] Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Graptemys pseudogeographica

False Map Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Graptemys sabinensis

Sabine Map Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Brown, Temple-Miller, Roosenburg & White 2012 Cagle 1953 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Fritz & Havas 2006 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Malaclemys (Diamondback Terrapin)
 
Malaclemys terrapin

Diamondback Terrapin

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Pseudemys (Cooter Turtles)
 
Pseudemys concinna

River Cooter

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Pseudemys floridana

Florida Cooter

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992
Genus Terrapene (American Box Turtles)
 
Terrapene carolina

Eastern Box Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Terrapene ornata

Ornate Box Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2017 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Terrapene triunguis

Three-toed Box Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Trachemys (Slider Turtles)
 
Trachemys scripta

Common Slider

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Kinosternidae (American Mud and Musk Turtles)
Genus Kinosternon (American Mud Turtles)
 
Kinosternon subrubrum

Common Mud Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Sternotherus (North American Musk Turtles)
 
Sternotherus carinatus

Razor-backed Musk Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Lindeman 2008 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Sternotherus odoratus

Common Musk Turtle

Dundee & Rossman 1989 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Sternotherus peltifer

Stripe-necked Musk Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 [as minor] Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Scott, Glenn & Rissler 2018
 Family Testudinidae (Tortoises)
Genus Gopherus (Gopher Tortoises)
 
Gopherus polyphemus

Gopher Tortoise

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)
Genus Apalone (North American Softshell Turtles)
 
Apalone mutica

Smooth Softshell Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Apalone spinifera

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Dundee & Rossman 1989 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021