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Reptiles & Amphibians of Kentucky

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

96,625
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 96,625 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Kentucky. The most frequently seen is the Common Box Turtle, with 9,846 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Kentucky include Streamside Salamander and Ravine Salamander - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Streamside SalamanderRavine Salamander

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in Kentucky

Common Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina
9,846 observations
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
4,732 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
4,366 observations
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
4,265 observations
Fowler's Toad
Anaxyrus fowleri
3,609 observations
Southern Two-lined Salamander
Eurycea cirrigera
3,497 observations
North American Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
3,200 observations
Northern Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
3,181 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
3,008 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
2,945 observations
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
2,790 observations
Eastern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus undulatus
2,617 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
2,318 observations
Cave Salamander
Eurycea lucifuga
2,248 observations
Common Five-lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
2,060 observations
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris blanchardi
1,984 observations
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
1,839 observations · iNaturalist
Southern Leopard Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus
1,804 observations
Eastern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
1,801 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
1,787 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
1,785 observations
Spotted Salamander
Ambystoma maculatum
1,778 observations
Long-tailed Salamander
Eurycea longicauda
1,756 observations
Northern Slimy Salamander
Plethodon glutinosus
1,737 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
1,654 observations
Northern Dusky Salamander
Desmognathus fuscus
1,612 observations
Marbled Salamander
Ambystoma opacum
1,596 observations
Northern Zigzag Salamander
Plethodon dorsalis
1,571 observations
Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon cinereus
1,479 observations
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer
1,318 observations
Rough Greensnake
Opheodrys aestivus
1,318 observations
DeKay's Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
1,235 observations
Green Treefrog
Dryophytes cinereus
1,209 observations · iNaturalist
Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigra
1,152 observations
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
1,113 observations
Pickerel Frog
Lithobates palustris
1,101 observations
Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
1,059 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
974 observations
Common Wormsnake
Carphophis amoenus
804 observations
Wood Frog
Lithobates sylvaticus
765 observations
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
762 observations
Red Salamander
Pseudotriton ruber
630 observations
Green Salamander
Aneides aeneus
614 observations
Little Brown Skink
Scincella lateralis
571 observations
Streamside Salamander
Ambystoma barbouri
559 observations
Northern Cricket Frog
Acris crepitans
539 observations
Northern Map Turtle
Graptemys geographica
529 observations
Ravine Salamander
Plethodon richmondi
516 observations
Queensnake
Regina septemvittata
502 observations
Eastern Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
490 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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