Reptiles & Amphibians of South Dakota
The reptiles & amphibians most often spotted in South Dakota, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed reptiles & amphibians in South Dakota
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
874 observations
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
822 observations
Woodhouse's Toad
Anaxyrus woodhousii
621 observations
Plains Garter Snake
Thamnophis radix
505 observations
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
463 observations
Prairie Rattlesnake
Crotalus viridis
327 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
318 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
299 observations
Boreal Chorus Frog
Pseudacris maculata
245 observations
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
232 observations
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
230 observations
Great Plains Toad
Anaxyrus cognatus
207 observations
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
202 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
171 observations
Western Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma mavortium
153 observations · iNaturalist
Western Foxsnake
Pantherophis ramspotti
141 observations · iNaturalist
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
128 observations · iNaturalist
Ornate Box Turtle
Terrapene ornata
128 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
106 observations
Prairie Skink
Plestiodon septentrionalis
106 observations
Canadian Toad
Anaxyrus hemiophrys
97 observations · iNaturalist
Greater Short-horned Lizard
Phrynosoma hernandesi
90 observations
Smooth Greensnake
Opheodrys vernalis
78 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
71 observations
Cope's Gray Tree Frog
Dryophytes chrysoscelis
68 observations · iNaturalist
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris blanchardi
57 observations · iNaturalist
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica
54 observations
Plains Spadefoot
Spea bombifrons
48 observations
Plains Leopard Frog
Lithobates blairi
42 observations
Western Earless Lizard
Holbrookia maculata
39 observations
Prairie Lizard
Sceloporus consobrinus
34 observations · iNaturalist
Six-lined Racerunner
Aspidoscelis sexlineatus
34 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Hognose Snake
Heterodon nasicus
30 observations
Smooth Softshell
Apalone mutica
17 observations
Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
16 observations
Western Milksnake
Lampropeltis gentilis
15 observations · iNaturalist
Blanding's Turtle
Emydoidea blandingii
12 observations
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum
7 observations
Many-lined Skink
Plestiodon multivirgatus
7 observations
Common Sagebrush Lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
6 observations
Wood Frog
Lithobates sylvaticus
6 observations
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
4 observations
Yellow Mud Turtle
Kinosternon flavescens
3 observations
Lined Snake
Tropidoclonion lineatum
2 observations
Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
2 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
1 observation