Reptilia: Reptiles
The class Reptilia consists of 4 orders, 67 families, about 1,900 genera and some 8,300 species. They are distributed on every
continent with the exception of Antarctica. About 340 species can be found in North America north of Mexico. Reptiles range in size from the 16 milimeter (0.63 in) Jaragua Sphaero
Sphaerodactylus ariasae to the 8 meter (26 ft) Green Anaconda Eunectes murinus.
Crotphytidae: Collared and Leopard Lizards
Crotaphytus
There are 7 species in this genus.
The Eastern Collared Lizard Crotaphytus collaris is found from the central United States south into Mexico. They typically are
found on medium-to-large boulders in areas of sparsely vegetated, open terrain. This adult was observed in Marijalda Canyon, Pinaleno Mountains, Graham County,
Arizona, April 2011.
The Sonoran Collared Lizard Crotophytus nebrius has a limited range being found only in southwestern Arizona and western Sonora, Mexico.
Photographed at Sabino Canyon, Pima County, Arizona, May 2010.
Gambelia
There are 3 species in this genus.
The Long-nosed Leopard Lizard Gambelia wislizenii is largely confined to flat areas of arid to semiarid lands of western North America
and northwestern Mexico. This individual was at Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah, May 2010.
Iguanidae: Iguanas and Chuckwallas
Iguana
There are 2 species in this genus.
Green Iguanas Iguana iguana range from southern Mexico south to central Brazil, Paraguay,
and Bolivia. They can also be found on some of the Caribbean Islands. This individual was at Tortuguero, Costa Rica, April 2009.
Phrynosomatidae: Phrynosomatid Lizards
Callisaurus
This is the only species in the genus.
The Zebra-tailed Lizard Callisaurus draconoides is found from Nevada, southern California, Arizona, south into northwestern Mexico. This individual was photographed at the extreme eastern edge of it's range at Rancho Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, September 2010.
Cophosaurus
This is the only species in the genus.
Greater Earless Lizards Cophosaurus texanus primarily inhabit mainly the Chihuahuan Desert of the southwestern USA and northwestern
Mexico. Sabino Canyon, Pima County, Arizona, April 2010.
Holbrookia
There are 4 species in this genus.
This Common Lesser Earless Lizard Holbrookia maculata is found across the central and southwestern USA south to northern Durango,
Mexico. Rancho Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, June 2010.
Phrynosoma
There are 14 species in this genus.
The Texas Horned Lizard Phrynosoma cornutum is found in the Chihuahuan Desert and southern Great Plains of the midwestern and southern
USA and northern Mexico. This copulating pair were at Rancho Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, June 2010.
The Greater Short-horned Lizard Phrynosoma hernandesi is found in a variety of habitats across much of the interior
western United States, south into Mexico. Photographed at Luna Lake, near Alpine, Apache County, Arizona, August 2010.
The Round-tailed Horned Lizard Phrynosoma modestum is found in the Chihuahuan Desert and southern Great Plains from extreme southeastern
Colorado and western Oklahoma, west Texas, New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and south into Mexico. Rancho Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, June 2010.
Sceloporus
There are over 90 species in this genus.
Twin-spotted Spiny Lizards Sceloporus bimaculosus have a patchy occurance from southeastern Arizona, central and southern New Mexico, west
Texas, and south into northern Mexico. This female, or possibly a juvenile, was found at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Sierra County, New Mexico, June 2011.
The Southwestern Fence Lizard Sceloporus cowlesi ranges from southeastern and east-central Arizona eastward through much of New Mexico and
southwestern Texas and adjoining north-central Mexico. This adult was photographed at The Preserve at Granite Gap, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, April 2011.
Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus magister is found from southern Utah south into Arizona, southern California, northwestern and
southwestern New Mexico and northwestern Mexico. This individual was photographed in Marijalda Canyon, Pinaleno Mountains, Graham County, Arizona,
April 2011.
Clark's Spiny Lizard Sceloporus clarkii is found in Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, south to Sonora, Mexico. The bars on the
forelimbs seperate this species from the similar Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus magister. This individual was scaling a large rock at Sabino
Canyon, Pima County, Arizona, June 2010.
The Yarrow's Spiny Lizard Sceloporus jarrovii has a very restricted US range in the mountains of southeastern Arizona and extreme
southwestern New Mexico. They also range south to central Zacatacas, Mexico. They are easily found in the South Fork of the Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise
County, Arizona, which is where this individual was photographed in October 2008.
The Crevice Spiny Lizard Sceloporus poinsettii is found in southwestern and southeastern New Mexico, western and central Texas, and northern Mexico.
This female was photographed in the Burro Mountains, near Silver City, Grant County, New Mexico, May 2011.
Urosaurus
There are 9 species in this genus.
The Ornate Tree Lizard Urosaurus inornatus is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This brightly coloured male
at Rancho Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, May 2010, is one of nine known different colour types.
Uta
There may be as many as 14 species in this genus.
The Common Side-blotched Lizard Uta stansburiana is very common across much of the western
United States and northwestern Mexico. This dull-coloured female was at Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County,
Utah, May 2010.
Teiidae: Whiptails and their Allies
Aspidoscelis
There are 36 species in this genus.
The Arizona Striped Whiptail Aspidoscelis arizonae has a very restricted range. They are only found in the vicinity of Willcox, and at least two small areas of Cochise County, Arizona. This individual was at Twin Lakes, Willcox, Cochise County, Arizona, June 2011.
The Gila Spotted Whiptail Aspidoscelis flagellicauda is unisexual (female only)!
They have a very restricted range along Arizona's Mogollon Rim, east to
the Gila River drainage in southwestern New Mexico. A disjunct population is also found in some of the "sky islands" of southeastern Arizona.
This individual was found at Wet Canyon, Pinaleno Mountains, Graham County, Arizona, May 2010.
Sonoran Spotted Whiptails Aspidoscelis sonorae are found from southeastern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico, south into Sonora,
Mexico. Photographed at Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, June 2010.
Tiger Whiptails Aspidoscelis tigris are found from Oregon and Idaho south through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and extreme
western Colorado and New Mexico to nortwestern Mexico. Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, Utah, May 2010.
Common Checkered Whiptails Aspidoscelis tesselatta are found from southeastern Colorado, New Mexico, western and northern Texas,
and adjacent Chihuahua and Coahuila, Mexico. Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Sierra County, New Mexico, June 2011.
Coleonyx
There are 7 species in this genus.
The mainly nocturnal Western Banded Gecko Coleonyx variegatus is common across much of the southwestern
United States and northwestern Mexico. This juvenile was at the Preserve at Granite Gap, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, March 2011.
Snakes
Snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica and on most islands. Fifteen families are currently recognized, comprising 456 genera and over
2,900 species.
Boidae: Boas
Boa
There are 4 species in this genus.
The Boa constrictor Boa constrictor is found from northern Mexico through Central America, south to Argentina. They are also found on many islands. This individual was at Caroni Swamp, Trinidad, January 2008.
Colubridae: Typical Snakes
Pituophis
There are 5 species in this genus.
The Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer lives in a variety of habitats, from lowlands high into mountains. Found from southwestern Canada, through the western United States and south to northern mainland Mexico the and tip of southern Baja California. This individual was at the Preserve at Granite Gap, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, September 2011.
Arizona
There is only 1 species in this genus.
The Glossy Snake Arizona elegans is an inhabitant of semi-arid grasslands of the southwestern
United States, from California east to Kansas and south through Texas to northern Mexico. This individual was crossing a road near Portal,
Cochise County, Arizona, November 2008.
Lampropeltis
There are 6 species in this genus.
The Sonora Mountain Kingsnake Lampropeltis pyromelana is found in several disjunct populations in the mountains of Utah,
Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico, and adjacent areas of northern Mexico. This individual was at South Fork, Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise
County, Arizona, October 2006.
Viperidae: Vipers
Crotalus
There are 29 species in this genus.
The Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox is found in the United States from central Arkansas and southeastern California, south into Mexico as far north as northern Sinaloa, Hidalgo and northern Veracruz. Disjunct populations exist in southern Veracruz and southeastern Oaxaca. This individual was at Rancho Hidalgo, near Animas, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, September 2010.
The Black-tailed Rattlesnake Crotalus molossus is found in the southwestern United States in Arizona, New Mexico and west and
central Texas. In Mexico as far south as Oaxaca. Also found on a couple of islands in the Gulf of Mexico. This individual was crossing
a road near Portal, Cochise County, Arizona, July 2008.
Last updated 16 July 2011.
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