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Reptiles & Amphibians of Tucson, AZ

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

44,978
recent observations
50
species listed
50
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 44,978 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near Tucson. The most frequently seen is the Desert Spiny Lizard, with 4,813 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed near Tucson include Regal Horned Lizard and Sonoran Desert Tortoise - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Regal Horned LizardSonoran Desert Tortoise

Most-observed reptiles & amphibians near Tucson

Desert Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus magister
4,813 observations
Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
4,348 observations
Zebra-tailed Lizard
Callisaurus draconoides
2,762 observations
Ornate Tree Lizard
Urosaurus ornatus
2,696 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
2,112 observations
Sonoran Desert Toad
Incilius alvarius
1,851 observations
Red-spotted Toad
Anaxyrus punctatus
1,778 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
1,470 observations
Western Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris
1,377 observations
San Esteban Island × Sonoran Spiny-tailed Iguana
Ctenosaura conspicuosa × macrolopha
1,371 observations · iNaturalist
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
1,306 observations
Greater Earless Lizard
Cophosaurus texanus
1,221 observations
Gila Monster
Heloderma suspectum
1,195 observations
Regal Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma solare
1,187 observations
Couch's Spadefoot
Scaphiopus couchii
1,173 observations
Canyon Tree Frog
Dryophytes arenicolor
1,073 observations
Western Banded Gecko
Coleonyx variegatus
994 observations
Sonoran Desert Tortoise
Gopherus morafkai
939 observations
Sonoran Spotted Whiptail
Aspidoscelis sonorae
889 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
881 observations
Clark's Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus clarkii
823 observations
Long-nosed Snake
Rhinocheilus lecontei
775 observations
Mediterranean House Gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus
740 observations
Greater Short-horned Lizard
Phrynosoma hernandesi
691 observations
Southwestern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus cowlesi
629 observations
Tiger Rattlesnake
Crotalus tigris
490 observations
Black-necked Garter Snake
Thamnophis cyrtopsis
430 observations
Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Crotalus molossus
408 observations
Desert Nightsnake
Hypsiglena chlorophaea
344 observations
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
343 observations
Desert Kingsnake
Lampropeltis splendida
328 observations
Desert Iguana
Dipsosaurus dorsalis
317 observations
Common Coachwhip
Masticophis flagellum
270 observations
Sonoran Whipsnake
Masticophis bilineatus
240 observations
Desert Coachwhip
Masticophis piceus
220 observations · iNaturalist
Great Plains Toad
Anaxyrus cognatus
216 observations
Sonoran Coralsnake
Micruroides euryxanthus
212 observations
Mojave Rattlesnake
Crotalus scutulatus
198 observations
Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
193 observations
Western Threadsnake
Rena humilis
182 observations
Sonoran Mud Turtle
Kinosternon sonoriense
177 observations
Eastern Collared Lizard
Crotaphytus collaris
176 observations
Banded Sand Snake
Sonora cincta
169 observations
Arizona Black Rattlesnake
Crotalus cerberus
164 observations
Checkered Garter Snake
Thamnophis marcianus
145 observations
Lowland Leopard Frog
Lithobates yavapaiensis
143 observations
Sonoran Lyre Snake
Trimorphodon lambda
141 observations
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
132 observations
Western Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis
123 observations
Giant Spotted Whiptail
Aspidoscelis stictogrammus
123 observations · iNaturalist

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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