List of reptiles of West Virginia

There are 39 species of reptiles whose ranges include at least parts of the state of West Virginia, USA. With 20 species of snakes, 13 turtle species, and 6 lizard species, the state's reptile diversity is high. However, many of these species are declining in population due to habitat destruction, water pollution, and the killing of reptiles out of ignorant fear.^[1]

The IUCN classifies one species as "Near Threatened" (Northern Red-bellied Cooter^[2]), one species as "Vulnerable" (Eastern Box Turtle^[3]), and two species as "Endangered" (Spotted Turtle^[4] and Wood Turtle^[5]).

The following letters indicate the likelihood of finding each animal in West Virginia:^[6]

C	Common	Can be commonly seen in suitable habitat within current range.
U	Uncommon	Seldom seen because habitat restricted and/or behavior secretive.
R	Rare	Not often present even in suitable habitat.

Order Testudines (Turtles)

Family Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles)

• Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) C

Family Emydidae (Pond Turtles)

• Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) R

• Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) U

• Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) C

• Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) U

• Ouachita Map Turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) R

• Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) C

• Red-eared Turtle (Trachemys scripta) C

• Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) U

• Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys rubriventris) U

Family Kinosternidae (Mud Turtles)

• Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus) C

Family Trionychidae (Softshells)

• Eastern Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera) C

• Midland Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica) R

Order Squamata (scaled reptiles, lizards)

Family Phrynosomatidae (Earless Lizards)

• Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) C

Family Teiidae (Whiptails)

• Eastern Six-Lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) U

Family Scincidae (Skinks)

• Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis) U

• Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) C

• Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) U

• Northern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus) U

Order Squamata (scaled reptiles, snakes)

Family Colubridae (Colubrids)

• Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata) C

• Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) C

• Northern Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) U

• Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) C

• Common Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus) U

• Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) C

• Eastern Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae) U

• Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) U

• Eastern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus) C

• Northern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) C

• Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) C

• Northern Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) U

• Smooth Green Snake (Liochlorophis vernalis) C

• Red Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) R

• Eastern Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) C

• Northern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) R

• Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) R

• Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) C

Family Viperidae (Vipers)

• Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) C

• Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) C

References

List of reptiles of the United States by political division States Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Federal district Washington, D.C. Insular areas American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Other lists North American reptiles North American amphibians Reptiles and amphibians by region

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