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Reptiles & Amphibians of Iowa

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

20,797
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 20,797 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Iowa. The most frequently seen is the American Toad, with 2,388 recorded sightings.

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in Iowa

American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
2,388 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
2,243 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
1,871 observations
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
1,375 observations
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris blanchardi
1,335 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
1,227 observations
DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
1,217 observations
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
944 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
864 observations
Western Foxsnake
Pantherophis ramspotti
783 observations
Woodhouse's Toad
Anaxyrus woodhousii
715 observations
Plains Garter Snake
Thamnophis radix
669 observations
Boreal Chorus Frog
Pseudacris maculata
498 observations
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
346 observations · iNaturalist
Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
338 observations
Plains Leopard Frog
Lithobates blairi
308 observations
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
301 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
261 observations
Western Ratsnake
Pantherophis obsoletus
255 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
223 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
222 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
169 observations
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum
166 observations
Northern Map Turtle
Graptemys geographica
165 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
159 observations
Gray Treefrog
Dryophytes versicolor
146 observations · iNaturalist
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica
134 observations
Prairie Skink
Plestiodon septentrionalis
129 observations
Ornate Box Turtle
Terrapene ornata
126 observations
Six-lined Racerunner
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus
120 observations · iNaturalist
Pickerel Frog
Lithobates palustris
93 observations
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
92 observations
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
86 observations
Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
86 observations
Smooth Greensnake
Opheodrys vernalis
83 observations
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
78 observations
Blanding's Turtle
Emydoidea blandingii
72 observations
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
66 observations
Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
66 observations
Western Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus
52 observations
Eastern Foxsnake
Pantherophis vulpinus
48 observations
Smooth Softshell
Apalone mutica
46 observations
Common Five-lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
45 observations
Lined Snake
Tropidoclonion lineatum
40 observations
Plains Hognose Snake
Heterodon nasicus
27 observations
Plains Spadefoot
Spea bombifrons
26 observations
Prairie Kingsnake
Lampropeltis calligaster
26 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
24 observations
Blue-spotted Salamander
Ambystoma laterale
22 observations
Great Plains Toad
Anaxyrus cognatus
22 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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