Reptiles of
Iowa [USA]

Related checklists:  USA

Bibliography of the reptiles of Iowa Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Iowa 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:
Lizards (Sauria)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

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

Slender Glass Lizard

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 Holman 1971 LeClere 2013
 Family Scincidae (Skinks)
Genus Plestiodon (Blue-tailed Skinks)
 
Plestiodon fasciatus

North American Five-lined Skink

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013
 
Plestiodon obsoletus

Great Plains Skink

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1988 Hall 1976 LeClere 2013
 
Plestiodon septentrionalis

Prairie Skink

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013
 Family Teiidae (Greater Tejus)
Genus Aspidoscelis (Northern Whiptails)
 
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus

Six-lined Whiptail

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013

Snakes (Serpentes)
= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct

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

Western Worm Snake

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Coluber (North American Racer)
 
Coluber constrictor

North American Racer

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Diadophis (Ring-necked Snake)
 
Diadophis punctatus

Ring-necked Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Heterodon (North American Hognose Snakes)
 
Heterodon nasicus

Western Hognose Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Heterodon platirhinos

Eastern Hognose Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Lampropeltis (King Snakes and Milk Snakes)
 
Lampropeltis calligaster

Prarie Kingsnake

Blaney 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Ernst & Ernst 2003 LeClere 2013 Markel 1990 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis holbrooki

Speckled Kingsnake

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Markel 1990 Schmidt 1953 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis triangulum

Eastern Milk Snake

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Ruane, Bryson, Pyron & Burbrink 2014 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Nerodia (North American Water Snakes)
 
Nerodia erythrogaster

Plain-bellied Water Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 LeClere 2013 McCranie 1990
 
Nerodia rhombifer

Diamondback Water Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 LeClere 2013 McAllister 1985
 
Nerodia sipedon

Northern Water Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Lawson 1987 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Opheodrys (North American Green Snakes)
 
Opheodrys vernalis

Smooth Green Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Pantherophis (North American Rat Snakes)
 
Pantherophis obsoletus

Western Rat Snake

Burbrink 2001 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Schulz 1996 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Pantherophis ramspotti

Western Fox Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 [as vulpinus] Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner 2011 LeClere 2013 Schulz 1996 [as vulpinus] Wright & Wright 1952 [as vulpinus]
Genus Pituophis (Bullsnakes, Pine Snakes and Gopher Snakes)
 
Pituophis catenifer

Gopher Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Regina (Queen Snakes)
 
Regina grahamii

Mississippi Crayfish Snake

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Storeria (North American Brown Snakes)
 
Storeria dekayi

Common Brown Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Storeria occipitomaculata

North American Red-bellied Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Thamnophis (North American Garter Snakes and Ribbon Snakes)
 
Thamnophis proximus

Western Ribbon Snake

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Thamnophis radix

Plains Garter Snake

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Thamnophis sirtalis

Common Garter Snake

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Tropidoclonion (Lined Snake)
 
Tropidoclonion lineatum

Lined Snake

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Virginia (Smooth Earth Snake)
 
Virginia valeriae

Smooth Earth Snake

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Powell, Collins & Fish 1992 Wright & Wright 1952
 Family Viperidae (Vipers)
Genus Agkistrodon (American Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Cantils)
 
Agkistrodon contortrix

Eastern Copperhead

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Crotalus (Typical Rattlesnakes)
 
Crotalus horridus

Timber Rattlesnake

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Crotalus viridis

Prairie Rattlesnake

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Ernst 1992 LeClere 2013
Genus Sistrurus (Pygmy Rattlesnakes)
 
Sistrurus catenatus

Eastern Massasauga

Behler & King 1979 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Ernst 1992 LeClere 2013 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Sistrurus tergeminus

Western Massasauga

Christiansen & Bailey 1990 Ernst 1992 LeClere 2013

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

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Emydidae (Western Pond Turtles)
Genus Chrysemys (American Painted Turtle)
 
Chrysemys picta

American Painted Turtle

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Emydoidea (Blanding's Turtle)
 
Emydoidea blandingii

Blanding's Turtle

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 Congdon, Graham, Herman, Lang, Pappas & Brecke 2008 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Glyptemys (North American Wood Turtle and Bog Turtle)
 
Glyptemys insculpta

North American Wood Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1988 Iverson 1992 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Graptemys (Map Turtles)
 
Graptemys geographica

Northern Map Turtle

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Graptemys ouachitensis

Ouachita Map Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Graptemys pseudogeographica

False Map Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1988 Christiansen 2001 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Terrapene (American Box Turtles)
 
Terrapene ornata

Ornate Box Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2017 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Trachemys (Slider Turtles)
 
Trachemys scripta

Common Slider

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

Yellow Mud Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Christiansen & Bailey 1988 Iverson 1992 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Sternotherus (North American Musk Turtles)
 
Sternotherus odoratus

Common Musk Turtle

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)
Genus Apalone (North American Softshell Turtles)
 
Apalone mutica

Smooth Softshell Turtle

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Apalone spinifera

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Christiansen & Bailey 1988 LeClere 2013 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021