Reptiles & Amphibians of California
The reptiles & amphibians most often spotted in California, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in California
Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
175,860 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
54,704 observations
Pacific chorus frog
Pseudacris regilla
47,679 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
39,583 observations
Southern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria multicarinata
37,523 observations
California Newt
Taricha torosa
35,262 observations
California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps attenuatus
28,650 observations
Western Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus
28,441 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
23,689 observations
Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
22,611 observations
Ensatina
Ensatina eschscholtzii
18,985 observations
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
15,448 observations
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
12,288 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
11,062 observations
Arboreal Salamander
Aneides lugubris
10,268 observations
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
9,049 observations
Western Skink
Plestiodon skiltonianus
8,777 observations
Rough-skinned Newt
Taricha granulosa
8,388 observations
Blainville's Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma blainvillii
7,907 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus magister
7,578 observations
Northwestern Pond Turtle
Actinemys marmorata
7,571 observations
Common Chuckwalla
Sauromalus ater
7,299 observations
California Tree Frog
Pseudacris cadaverina
6,854 observations · iNaturalist
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
6,851 observations
Granite Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus orcutti
6,147 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria coerulea
6,054 observations
Desert Iguana
Dipsosaurus dorsalis
5,899 observations
Desert Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma platyrhinos
5,586 observations · iNaturalist
Zebra-tailed Lizard
Callisaurus draconoides
5,542 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
5,412 observations
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Rana boylii
5,035 observations · iNaturalist
California Red-legged Frog
Rana draytonii
4,992 observations · iNaturalist
Striped Racer
Masticophis lateralis
4,752 observations
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Crotalus ruber
4,672 observations
Black-bellied Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps nigriventris
4,075 observations
Common Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
3,993 observations
Common Sharp-tailed Snake
Contia tenuis
3,824 observations
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
Gambelia wislizenii
3,686 observations
Southern Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus vandenburgianus
3,539 observations · iNaturalist
California Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon ensatus
3,497 observations · iNaturalist
Aquatic Garter Snake
Thamnophis atratus
3,468 observations · iNaturalist
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Crotalus pyrrhus
3,331 observations · iNaturalist
Mojave Desert Tortoise
Gopherus agassizii
3,253 observations
Common Coachwhip
Masticophis flagellum
3,223 observations
Pacific Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon tenebrosus
3,137 observations
Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
3,077 observations
Orange-throated Whiptail
Aspidoscelis hyperythrus
3,064 observations · iNaturalist
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
2,896 observations
Two-striped Garter Snake
Thamnophis hammondii
2,666 observations · iNaturalist
Southern California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps major
2,652 observations · iNaturalist