Minnesota Reptiles

 

Class Reptilia

Reptilia (reptiles) is the class of animals that is characterized by breathing air, laying tough-shelled amniotic eggs, and having dry skin covered in scales and/or scutes (bony plates).

There are 9,766 reptile species worldwide, 530 species in the United States, and 29 species native to and currently found in Minnesota.

  common snapping turtle  
     

 

Recent Additions

Six-lined racerunner

Six-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) is the largest lizard in Minnesota. It occurs on blufflands and river terraces in the southeastern part of the state. It is found mostly on south-facing bluffs, in river floodplains, and on sandy outwashes. Populations tend to be localized and isolated. Minnesota does not give it a protected status but lists it as a Species in Greatest Conservation Need.

Adults are most active in the morning, bask on rocks in the afternoon, and spend the night in a burrow (sound familiar?). They move with short, quick, bursts of speed. They will eat most arthropods, especially grasshoppers and crickets, but also beetle larvae, ants, spiders, and mollusks.

When attacked by a predator, the racerunner will detach its all or part of its tail. The tail will continue to wiggle and distract the predator while the racerunner seeks cover. The tail will regrow but will not be as long as the original.

Of the three lizards native to Minnesota, six-lined racerunner is the largest. There are three light yellow or yellowish-green stripes on each side. This is the feature that gives the racerunner its common name and distinguishes it from the other two lizards in Minnesota.

  six-lined racerunner

Photo by Scott Leddy

Plains garter snake

Plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) is a medium-sized, nonvenomous snake. It is found through Minnesota except in the arrowhead region, but is most common in the western and metro counties. It is similar in appearance to, and difficult to distinguish from, the much more common and widespread eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis).

The two species are distinguished by the position of pale lateral stripes and by markings on the upper jaw. Plains garter snake has pale lateral stripes on the third and fourth scale rows counting up from the belly scales. Each of the scales on the upper jaw (labial scales) has a bold black outline. Eastern garter snake has pale lateral stripes on the second and third scale rows, and none or at most one or two of the labial scales have a bold black border.

  plains garter snake

Photo by Bill Reynolds

Dekay’s brown snake

Dekay’s brown snake (Storeria dekayi) is a small nonvenomous snake, the second smallest snake found in Minnesota. It is relatively common but not often seen except by professional and amateur herpetologists. Although it is active during the day it is most often found by turning over a rock or a board lying on the ground. When threatened it will strike repeatedly, but its bite is neither venomous nor painful. Its mouth is not big enough to bite humans.

This species is identified by a row of black spots on each side of the pale dorsal stripe; and the cream-colored belly scales that are unmarked except for a very small black spot at each end.

  Dekay's brown snake

 

Blanding’s turtle

Blanding’s turtle is a long-lived, medium-sized turtle. Its conservation status in Minnesota is threatened and it is listed as a species in greatest conservation need. Threats include habitat degradation and road mortality. It occurs mostly in the eastern half of the state but also in scattered locations in western Minnesota. It is seldom seen because it is the first turtle to submerge when disturbed and the last to emerge after being disturbed.

This species is identified by the smooth, high domed shell and by the bright yellow chin and throat.

  Blanding’s turtle

Photo by Pamela Freeman

Western fox snake

This is a medium to large, nonvenomous snake. It is one of the four largest snakes in Minnesota. Adults are usually 36 to 56 in length. In Minnesota it occurs mostly in the Mississippi, St. Croix, and Minnesota River valleys. It can be found from April to October in prairies, agricultural fields, woodland openings and edges, lowland meadows, river bottoms, and rocky outcroppings near water.

In the spring and fall adults move about during the day. In the hot summer they move about at night. When confronted they will often vibrate their tails producing a buzzing sound. In leaf litter or dry grass the sound resembles that of a rattlesnake. The reddish head resembles a copperhead. For these reasons the snake is often mistaken for a poisonous one and killed by humans.

  western fox snake

Photo by Brian Johnson

Other Recent Additions

western ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus)

smooth softshell (Apalone mutica)

false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)

Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis)

spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera)

northern map turtle (Graptemys geographica)

Ouachita map turtle

Photo by Jeff LeClere

 

This list includes only reptiles that have been recorded in Minnesota, but not necessarily all of the reptiles found in Minnesota.

 

Lizards

Profile Photo Video      
  Photo Video  

common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)

common five-lined skink

prairie skink

six-lined racerunner

Profile Photo Video  

prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis)

Profile Photo Video  

six-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus)

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

Snakes

Profile Photo Video      
Profile Photo Video  

common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

common garter snake

common watersnake

Dekay's brown snake

eastern hognose snake

eastern milksnake

gopher snake

lined snake

North American racer

plains garter snake

plains hognose snake

red-bellied snake

ring-necked snake

smooth greensnake

timber rattlesnake

western fox snake

western ratsnake

  Photo Video  

common watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)

Profile Photo Video  

Dekay’s brown snake (Storeria dekayi)

       

eastern fox snake (Pantherophis vulpinus)

  Photo Video  

eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

  Photo Video  

eastern milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

  Photo Video  

gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer)

  Photo Video  

lined snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum)

       

massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)

  Photo Video  

North American racer (Coluber constrictor)

Profile Photo Video  

plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix)

  Photo Video  

plains hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus)

Profile Photo Video  

red-bellied snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)

  Photo Video  

ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus)

  Photo Video  

smooth greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis)

  Photo Video  

timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Profile Photo Video  

western fox snake (Pantherophis ramspotti)

Profile Photo Video  

western ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus)

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

Turtles

Profile Photo Video      
Profile Photo Video  

Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

Blanding’s turtle

common snapping turtle

false map turtle

northern map turtle

Ouachita map turtle

painted turtle

smooth softshell

spiny softshell turtle

wood turtle

  Photo Video  

common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

Profile Photo Video  

false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)

Profile Photo Video  

northern map turtle (Graptemys geographica)

Profile Photo Video  

Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis)

  Photo Video  

painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)

Profile Photo Video  

smooth softshell (Apalone mutica)

Profile Photo Video  

spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera)

Profile Photo Video  

wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

       

 

 

 

No Species Page Yet?

If you do not see a linked page for a reptile in the list at left you can still upload a photo or video or report a sighting for that reptile. Click on one of the buttons below and type in the common name and/or scientific name of the reptile in your photo, video, or sighting. A new page will be created for that reptile featuring your contribution.

These buttons not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.

 

 

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