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Reptiles & Amphibians of San Jose, California

The reptiles & amphibians most often spotted near San Jose, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

64,642
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 64,642 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Jose. The most frequently seen is the Western Fence Lizard, with 16,707 recorded sightings.

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

California Giant SalamanderFoothill Yellow-legged FrogCalifornia Red-legged FrogCalifornia Tiger Salamander

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians near San Jose

Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
16,707 observations
California Newt
Taricha torosa
5,500 observations
California Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps attenuatus
5,179 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
4,162 observations
Southern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria multicarinata
3,677 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
3,662 observations
Western Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus
2,822 observations
Ensatina
Ensatina eschscholtzii
2,115 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
2,053 observations
Arboreal Salamander
Aneides lugubris
1,885 observations
Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
1,828 observations
Rough-skinned Newt
Taricha granulosa
1,411 observations
Western Skink
Plestiodon skiltonianus
1,367 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
1,272 observations
Northwestern Pond Turtle
Actinemys marmorata
1,029 observations
Aquatic Garter Snake
Thamnophis atratus
1,025 observations
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
1,025 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
1,020 observations
Northern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria coerulea
878 observations
California Giant Salamander
Dicamptodon ensatus
786 observations
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
751 observations
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
627 observations
Common Sharp-tailed Snake
Contia tenuis
495 observations
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Rana boylii
459 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
377 observations
California Red-legged Frog
Rana draytonii
322 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
314 observations
Red-bellied Newt
Taricha rivularis
253 observations
Northern Rubber Boa
Charina bottae
252 observations
California Mountain Kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata
203 observations
Forest Sharp-tailed Snake
Contia longicauda
175 observations
California Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma californiense
172 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
149 observations
Santa Cruz Black Salamander
Aneides niger
144 observations
Striped Racer
Masticophis lateralis
138 observations
Coast Night Snake
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus
91 observations
Blainville's Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma blainvillii
87 observations
Common Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
40 observations
Western Black-headed Snake
Tantilla planiceps
33 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
28 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
21 observations
River Cooter
Pseudemys concinna
21 observations
Italian Wall Lizard
Podarcis siculus
17 observations
Western Spadefoot
Spea hammondii
14 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
12 observations
Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
12 observations
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica
9 observations
Gilbert's Skink
Plestiodon gilberti
9 observations
Southwestern Pond Turtle
Actinemys pallida
8 observations
Long-toed Salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum
6 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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