Reptiles of
Virginia [USA]

Related checklists:  USA

Bibliography of the reptiles of Virginia Taxonomic history of the reptiles of Virginia 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

Behler & King 1979 Holman 1971 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994
 
Ophisaurus ventralis

Eastern Glass Lizard

Conant & Collins 1991 Mitchell 1994 Pague, Mitchell & Merkle 1983
 Family Phrynosomatidae (North American Lesser Iguanas)
Genus Sceloporus (Northern Spiny Lizards)
 
Sceloporus undulatus

Eastern Fence Lizard

Leache & Reeder 2002 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002
 Family Scincidae (Skinks)
Genus Plestiodon (Blue-tailed Skinks)
 
Plestiodon anthracinus

Coal Skink

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994
 
Plestiodon fasciatus

North American Five-lined Skink

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002
 
Plestiodon inexpectatus

Southeastern Five-lined Skink

Behler & King 1979 Mitchell 1994
 
Plestiodon laticeps

North American Broad-headed Skink

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002
Genus Scincella (South Asian and American Ground Skinks)
 
Scincella lateralis

North American Ground Skink

Brooks 1975 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002
 Family Teiidae (Greater Tejus)
Genus Aspidoscelis (Northern Whiptails)
 
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus

Six-lined Whiptail

Mitchell 1994

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

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Cemophora (North American Scarlet Snakes)
 
Cemophora coccinea

Eastern Scarlet Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Mitchell 1994 Williams 1985 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Coluber (North American Racer)
 
Coluber constrictor

North American Racer

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Diadophis (Ring-necked Snake)
 
Diadophis punctatus

Ring-necked Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Farancia (American Mud and Rainbow Snakes)
 
Farancia abacura

American Mud Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 McDaniel & Karges 1983 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Farancia erytrogramma

Rainbow Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1982 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Haldea (Rough Earth Snake)
 
Haldea striatula

Rough Earth Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Heterodon (North American Hognose Snakes)
 
Heterodon platirhinos

Eastern Hognose Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Lampropeltis (King Snakes and Milk Snakes)
 
Lampropeltis elapsoides

Scarlet Kingsnake

Markel 1990 Ruane 2015 Ruane, Bryson, Pyron & Burbrink 2014
 
Lampropeltis getula

Eastern Kingsnake

Behler & King 1979 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis nigra

Eastern Black Kingsnake

Mitchell 1994
 
Lampropeltis rhombomaculata

Brown King Snake

Blaney 1979 [as calligaster] Ernst & Ernst 2003 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 [as calligaster] Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Lampropeltis triangulum

Eastern Milk Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Ruane 2015 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Liodytes (North American Swamp Snakes)
 
Liodytes rigida

Glossy Crayfish Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Nerodia (North American Water Snakes)
 
Nerodia erythrogaster

Plain-bellied Water Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 McCranie 1990 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia sipedon

Northern Water Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Nerodia taxispilota

American Brown Water Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 McCranie 1983 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Opheodrys (North American Green Snakes)
 
Opheodrys aestivus

Rough Green Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Opheodrys vernalis

Smooth Green Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Pantherophis (North American Rat Snakes)
 
Pantherophis guttatus

Red Corn Snake

Dowling 1952 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Mitchell 1994 Schulz 1996 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Pantherophis quadrivittatus

Eastern Rat Snake

Burbrink 2001 [as alleghaniensis] Mitchell 1994 [as Elaphe o. obsoleta] Schulz 1996 [as obsoletus] White & White 2002 [as Elaphe o. obsoleta] Wright & Wright 1952 [as obsoletus]
Genus Pituophis (Bullsnakes, Pine Snakes and Gopher Snakes)
 
Pituophis melanoleucus

Common Pine Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Regina (Queen Snakes)
 
Regina septemvittata

Queen Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2004 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Storeria (North American Brown Snakes)
 
Storeria dekayi

Common Brown Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Storeria occipitomaculata

North American Red-bellied Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Tantilla (American Centipede Snakes)
 
Tantilla coronata

Southeastern Centipede Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Telford 1982 Wilson & Mata-Silva 2015 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Thamnophis (North American Garter Snakes and Ribbon Snakes)
 
Thamnophis saurita

Eastern Ribbon Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Thamnophis sirtalis

Common Garter Snake

Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rossman, Ford & Seigel 1996 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Virginia (Smooth Earth Snake)
 
Virginia valeriae

Smooth Earth Snake

Behler & King 1979 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Powell, Collins & Fish 1992 Wright & Wright 1952
 Family Viperidae (Vipers)
Genus Agkistrodon (American Copperheads, Cottonmouths, and Cantils)
 
Agkistrodon contortrix

Eastern Copperhead

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Ernst 1992 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Gloyd & Conant 1990 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002 Wright & Wright 1952
 
Agkistrodon piscivorus

Northern Cottonmouth

Behler & King 1979 Burbrink & Guiher 2015 Campbell & Lamar 2004 Ernst 1992 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Gloyd & Conant 1990 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Wright & Wright 1952
Genus Crotalus (Typical Rattlesnakes)
 
Crotalus horridus

Timber Rattlesnake

Campbell & Lamar 2004 Ernst 1992 Gibbons & Dorcas 2005 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 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

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Pritchard 1979 White & White 2002
Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)
 
Chelonia mydas

Green Sea Turtle

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002
Genus Eretmochelys (Hawksbill Sea Turtle)
 
Eretmochelys imbricata

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Keinath, Musick & Swingle 1991 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002
Genus Lepidochelys (Ridley Sea Turtles)
 
Lepidochelys kempii

Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Chelydridae (American Snapping Turtles)
Genus Chelydra (American Snapping Turtles)
 
Chelydra serpentina

North American Snapping Turtle

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 White & White 2002
 Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
Genus Dermochelys (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
 
Dermochelys coriacea

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Ernst & Gilroy 1979 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 White & White 2002
 Family Emydidae (Western Pond Turtles)
Genus Chrysemys (American Painted Turtle)
 
Chrysemys picta

American Painted Turtle

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 White & White 2002
Genus Clemmys (American Spotted Turtle)
 
Clemmys guttata

American Spotted Turtle

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 White & White 2002
Genus Deirochelys (Chicken Turtle)
 
Deirochelys reticularia

Chicken Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Buhlmann, Gibbons & Jackson 2008 Iverson 1992 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 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 Iverson 1992 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Glyptemys muhlenbergii

Bog Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
Genus Graptemys (Map Turtles)
 
Graptemys geographica

Northern Map Turtle

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Graptemys pseudogeographica

False Map Turtle

Savitzky & Mitchell 2001
Genus Malaclemys (Diamondback Terrapin)
 
Malaclemys terrapin

Diamondback Terrapin

Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 White & White 2002
Genus Pseudemys (Cooter Turtles)
 
Pseudemys concinna

River Cooter

Behler & King 1979 Iverson 1992 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Ward & Jackson 2008
 
Pseudemys floridana

Florida Cooter

Behler & King 1979 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Pseudemys rubriventris

Northern Red-bellied Cooter

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 White & White 2002
Genus Terrapene (American Box Turtles)
 
Terrapene carolina

Eastern Box Turtle

Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 White & White 2002
Genus Trachemys (Slider Turtles)
 
Trachemys scripta

Common Slider

Behler & King 1979 Iverson 1992 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 Family Kinosternidae (American Mud and Musk Turtles)
Genus Kinosternon (American Mud Turtles)
 
Kinosternon baurii

Striped Mud Turtle

Iverson 1992 Johnston, Dodd & Wilson 2021 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Kinosternon subrubrum

Common Mud Turtle

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 White & White 2002
Genus Sternotherus (North American Musk Turtles)
 
Sternotherus odoratus

Common Musk Turtle

Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021
 
Sternotherus peltifer

Stripe-necked Musk Turtle

Behler & King 1979 Iverson 1992 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Scott, Glenn & Rissler 2018
 Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)
Genus Apalone (North American Softshell Turtles)
 
Apalone spinifera

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Martof, Palmer, Bailey & Harrison 1980 Mitchell 1994 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021