Reptiles & Amphibians of Chicago, Illinois
The reptiles & amphibians most often spotted near Chicago, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed reptiles & amphibians near Chicago
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
1,879 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
1,747 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
1,670 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
1,247 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
1,062 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
973 observations
Plains Garter Snake
Thamnophis radix
786 observations
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
674 observations
DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
651 observations
Blue-spotted Salamander
Ambystoma laterale
538 observations
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
318 observations
Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
313 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
202 observations
Boreal Chorus Frog
Pseudacris maculata
173 observations
Spotted Salamander
Ambystoma maculatum
153 observations
Eastern Foxsnake
Pantherophis vulpinus
145 observations · iNaturalist
Six-lined Racerunner
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus
130 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum
123 observations
Unisexual Mole Salamander
Ambystoma unisexual
116 observations · iNaturalist
Queensnake
Regina septemvittata
98 observations
Common Five-lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
98 observations
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
92 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
79 observations
Northern Map Turtle
Graptemys geographica
73 observations
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
65 observations
Gray Treefrog
Dryophytes versicolor
63 observations · iNaturalist
Smooth Greensnake
Opheodrys vernalis
58 observations
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
45 observations · iNaturalist
Fowler's Toad
Anaxyrus fowleri
41 observations
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris blanchardi
38 observations · iNaturalist
Common Mudpuppy
Necturus maculosus
33 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
22 observations
Blanding's Turtle
Emydoidea blandingii
21 observations
Eastern Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
19 observations
River Cooter
Pseudemys concinna
19 observations
Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
15 observations
Brown Anole
Anolis sagrei
11 observations
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica
8 observations
Common Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina
7 observations
Spotted Turtle
Clemmys guttata
7 observations
Slender Glass Lizard
Ophisaurus attenuatus
6 observations
Plains Leopard Frog
Lithobates blairi
6 observations
Western Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus
5 observations
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
4 observations · iNaturalist
Mediterranean House Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus
3 observations
Smooth Softshell
Apalone mutica
3 observations
Greenhouse Frog
Eleutherodactylus planirostris
2 observations
Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon cinereus
2 observations
Green Iguana
Iguana iguana
2 observations
Ornate Box Turtle
Terrapene ornata
2 observations