Reptiles of
Arkansas [USA]

Related checklists:  USA

Bibliography of the reptiles of Arkansas Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Arkansas 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

Behler & King 1979 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985

Lizards (Sauria)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

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

Slender Glass Lizard

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Ophisaurus ventralis

Eastern Glass Lizard

Holman 1971
 Family Anolidae (Anoles)
Genus Anolis (Typical Anoles)
 
Anolis carolinensis

Common Green Anole

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 Family Crotaphytidae (North American Collared Lizards)
Genus Crotaphytus (Typical Collared Lizards)
 
Crotaphytus collaris

Common Collared Lizard

Behler & King 1979 McGuire 1996 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 Family Phrynosomatidae (North American Lesser Iguanas)
Genus Phrynosoma (Horned Lizards)
 
Phrynosoma cornutum

Texas Horned Lizard

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Sceloporus (Northern Spiny Lizards)
 
Sceloporus consobrinus

Prairie Lizard

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

Coal Skink

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Plestiodon fasciatus

North American Five-lined Skink

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Plestiodon laticeps

North American Broad-headed Skink

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Plestiodon obsoletus

Great Plains Skink

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Plestiodon septentrionalis

Prairie Skink

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Scincella (South Asian and American Ground Skinks)
 
Scincella lateralis

North American Ground Skink

Brooks 1975 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 Family Teiidae (Greater Tejus)
Genus Aspidoscelis (Northern Whiptails)
 
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus

Six-lined Whiptail

Maslin & Secoy 1986 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985

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

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Carphophis vermis

Western Worm Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Tumlison 2014 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Cemophora (North American Scarlet Snakes)
 
Cemophora coccinea

Eastern Scarlet Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Williams 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Coluber (North American Racer)
 
Coluber constrictor

North American Racer

Behler & King 1979 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Diadophis (Ring-necked Snake)
 
Diadophis punctatus

Ring-necked Snake

Behler & King 1979 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Farancia (American Mud and Rainbow Snakes)
 
Farancia abacura

American Mud Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Haldea (Rough Earth Snake)
 
Haldea striatula

Rough Earth Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Heterodon (North American Hognose Snakes)
 
Heterodon platirhinos

Eastern Hognose Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Lampropeltis (King Snakes and Milk Snakes)
 
Lampropeltis calligaster

Prarie Kingsnake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis gentilis

Northwestern Milk Snake

Ruane 2015 Ruane, Bryson, Pyron & Burbrink 2014
 
Lampropeltis holbrooki

Speckled Kingsnake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis nigra

Eastern Black Kingsnake

Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis triangulum

Eastern Milk Snake

Behler & King 1979 Markel 1990 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Liodytes (North American Swamp Snakes)
 
Liodytes rigida

Glossy Crayfish Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Masticophis (North American Whip Snakes and Coachwhips)
 
Masticophis flagellum

Common Coachwhip

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Nerodia (North American Water Snakes)
 
Nerodia cyclopion

Western Green Water Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia erythrogaster

Plain-bellied Water Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 McCranie 1990 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia fasciata

North American Banded Water Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia rhombifer

Diamondback Water Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 McAllister 1985 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia sipedon

Northern Water Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Lawson 1987 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Opheodrys (North American Green Snakes)
 
Opheodrys aestivus

Rough Green Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Opheodrys vernalis

Smooth Green Snake

Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Pantherophis (North American Rat Snakes)
 
Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Grey Rat Snake

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

Great Plains Rat Snake

Schulz 1996 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Pantherophis guttatus

Red Corn Snake

Dowling 1952 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Pantherophis obsoletus

Western Rat Snake

Burbrink 2001 Schulz 1996 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Pituophis (Bullsnakes, Pine Snakes and Gopher Snakes)
 
Pituophis catenifer

Gopher Snake

Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Pituophis melanoleucus

Common Pine Snake

Sweet & Parker 1990
Genus Regina (Queen Snakes)
 
Regina grahamii

Mississippi Crayfish Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Regina septemvittata

Queen Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Sonora (North American Ground, Sand, and Shovel-nosed Snakes)
 
Sonora episcopa

Great Plains Ground Snake

Cox, Davis Rabosky, Holmes, Reyes-Velasco, Roelke, Smith, Flores-Villela, McGuire & Campbell 2018 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 [as semiannulata] Vance 1985
Genus Storeria (North American Brown Snakes)
 
Storeria dekayi

Common Brown Snake

Behler & King 1979 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Storeria occipitomaculata

North American Red-bellied Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Tantilla (American Centipede Snakes)
 
Tantilla gracilis

Flat-headed Centipede Snake

Behler & King 1979 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Thamnophis (North American Garter Snakes and Ribbon Snakes)
 
Thamnophis cyrtopsis

Black-necked Garter Snake

Wright & Wright 1952
 
Thamnophis proximus

Western Ribbon Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Thamnophis radix

Plains Garter Snake

Behler & King 1979 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Thamnophis sirtalis

Common Garter Snake

Behler & King 1979 McAllister & Robison 2013 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Tropidoclonion (Lined Snake)
 
Tropidoclonion lineatum

Lined Snake

Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Virginia (Smooth Earth Snake)
 
Virginia valeriae

Smooth Earth Snake

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 Family Elapidae [part 1: terrestrial species] (Cobras, Mambas, etc.)
Genus Micrurus (American Coral Snakes)
 
Micrurus tener

Texas Coral Snake

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Ernst 1992 Roze 1996 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 Family Viperidae (Vipers)
Genus Agkistrodon (American Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Cantils)
 
Agkistrodon contortrix

Eastern Copperhead

Behler & King 1979 Gloyd & Conant 1990 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Agkistrodon piscivorus

Northern Cottonmouth

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Gloyd & Conant 1990 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Crotalus (Typical Rattlesnakes)
 
Crotalus atrox

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Ernst 1992 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Crotalus horridus

Timber Rattlesnake

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Ernst 1992 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Sistrurus (Pygmy Rattlesnakes)
 
Sistrurus miliarius

North American Pygmy Rattlesnake

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985 Wright & Wright 1952

Turtles (Testudines)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

Species
References
 Family Chelydridae (American Snapping Turtles)
Genus Chelydra (American Snapping Turtles)
 
Chelydra serpentina

North American Snapping Turtle

Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Macrochelys (Alligator Snapping Turtles)
 
Macrochelys temminckii

Western Alligator Snapping Turtle

Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 Family Emydidae (Western Pond Turtles)
Genus Chrysemys (American Painted Turtle)
 
Chrysemys picta

American Painted Turtle

Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Deirochelys (Chicken Turtle)
 
Deirochelys reticularia

Chicken Turtle

Buhlmann, Gibbons & Jackson 2008 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Graptemys (Map Turtles)
 
Graptemys geographica

Northern Map Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Graptemys ouachitensis

Ouachita Map Turtle

Brown, Temple-Miller, Roosenburg & White 2012 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Graptemys pseudogeographica

False Map Turtle

Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Pseudemys (Cooter Turtles)
 
Pseudemys concinna

River Cooter

Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Terrapene (American Box Turtles)
 
Terrapene carolina

Eastern Box Turtle

Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Terrapene ornata

Ornate Box Turtle

Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2017 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Terrapene triunguis

Three-toed Box Turtle

Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Trachemys (Slider Turtles)
 
Trachemys scripta

Common Slider

Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 Family Kinosternidae (American Mud and Musk Turtles)
Genus Kinosternon (American Mud Turtles)
 
Kinosternon subrubrum

Common Mud Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
Genus Sternotherus (North American Musk Turtles)
 
Sternotherus carinatus

Razor-backed Musk Turtle

Lindeman 2008 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Sternotherus odoratus

Common Musk Turtle

Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)
Genus Apalone (North American Softshell Turtles)
 
Apalone mutica

Smooth Softshell Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985
 
Apalone spinifera

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Iverson 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Trauth, Robison & Plummer 2004 Vance 1985