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Reptiles & Amphibians of California

The reptiles & amphibians most often spotted in California, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

781,640
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 781,640 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the Western Fence Lizard, with 189,840 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in California include Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, California Red-legged Frog and California Giant Salamander - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Foothill Yellow-legged FrogCalifornia Red-legged FrogCalifornia Giant Salamander

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in California

Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
189,840 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
57,766 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
50,758 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
41,311 observations
Southern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria multicarinata
39,633 observations
California Newt
Taricha torosa
35,611 observations
Western Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus
30,083 observations
California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps attenuatus
28,975 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
25,085 observations
Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
24,176 observations
Ensatina
Ensatina eschscholtzii
19,458 observations
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
16,492 observations
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
12,794 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
12,054 observations
Arboreal Salamander
Aneides lugubris
10,514 observations
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
9,602 observations
Western Skink
Plestiodon skiltonianus
9,112 observations
Rough-skinned Newt
Taricha granulosa
8,689 observations
Blainville's Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma blainvillii
8,259 observations
Desert Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus magister
8,088 observations
Northwestern Pond Turtle
Actinemys marmorata
8,055 observations
Common Chuckwalla
Sauromalus ater
7,481 observations
California Tree Frog
Pseudacris cadaverina
7,162 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
7,058 observations
Northern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria coerulea
6,648 observations
Granite Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus orcutti
6,489 observations
Desert Iguana
Dipsosaurus dorsalis
6,064 observations
Desert Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma platyrhinos
6,056 observations
Zebra-tailed Lizard
Callisaurus draconoides
5,867 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
5,762 observations
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Rana boylii
5,465 observations
California Red-legged Frog
Rana draytonii
5,197 observations
Striped Racer
Masticophis lateralis
4,959 observations
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
Crotalus ruber
4,861 observations
Common Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
4,626 observations
Black-bellied Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps nigriventris
4,097 observations
Common Sharp-tailed Snake
Contia tenuis
3,942 observations
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
Gambelia wislizenii
3,939 observations
Southern Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus vandenburgianus
3,792 observations
California Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon ensatus
3,721 observations
Aquatic Garter Snake
Thamnophis atratus
3,670 observations
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Crotalus pyrrhus
3,503 observations
Mojave Desert Tortoise
Gopherus agassizii
3,443 observations
Pacific Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon tenebrosus
3,421 observations
Orange-throated Whiptail
Aspidoscelis hyperythrus
3,262 observations
Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
3,249 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
3,056 observations
Desert Coachwhip
Masticophis piceus
3,028 observations · iNaturalist
Two-striped Garter Snake
Thamnophis hammondii
2,774 observations
Southern California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps major
2,693 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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