Reptiles

Download the information contained in this page as a 400K PDF File

Taxonomy in the reptile checklist follows that in the field guide to eastern and central North American species by Conant and Collins (1991). Species are listed alphabetically under each family. As in the amphibian checklist, specific subspecies are occasionally listed. We followed this practice when only one subspecies is known from the state and there is no question as to its identity. Common names follow Crother, et al. (2000).

The final revision of the Wisconsin checklist contains 35 reptile species in 9 families. All 35 species are native. None are currently listed as endangered or threatened at the federal level. One turtle, 1 lizard, and 4 snakes are listed as endangered at the state level, and 2 turtles and 1 snake are considered threatened at the state level.

Excluded Reptile Species

We exclude Plains Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus nasicus) and Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae) from the Wisconsin checklist. These species are known from Wisconsin from only one or two specimens (Vogt 1981, Casper 1996). Most herpetologists believe it is doubtful that these species occur in breeding populations anywhere in the state, and their occurrence can be considered accidental.

The Wisconsin Herpetological Literature

The literature on Wisconsin's reptiles is extensive and rich; records have been published in a variety of journals, bulletins, and other outlets. Dlutkowski, et al. (1987) provided a bibliography of 360 papers, notes, and articles dealing with the ecology, life history, distribution, history, and status of Wisconsin amphibians and reptiles. More than 140 additional works are included in an update to that bibliography (Watermolen 1992). An on-line version of the bibliography is now available on the Milwaukee Public Museum's web site [Exit DNR]. Update of the bibliography is an on-going cooperative project.

Reptile Survey and Atlas Efforts

The Wisconsin Herpetological Atlas Project tracks the distributions of reptiles (and amphibians) in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Public Museum, Inc. with the cooperative support of the DNR's Bureau of Endangered Resources and the Nature Conservancy initiated the Herpetological Atlas Project in 1986. The Herpetological Atlas is producing a computerized database of reptile distribution, based on records obtained from museum collections, field surveys, literature, and field notes provided by volunteer observers throughout the state. Over 800 endangered and threatened species records have been received, and over 450 new county records have been confirmed since the project began. The data collected help in mapping species distributions, documenting rare species occurrences, analyzing population trends, examining habitat requirements, and planning conservation priorities. Preliminary results of the Herpetological Atlas Project are presented in Casper (1996). For more information on the Herpetological Atlas Project, readers are encouraged to visit the project's web site [Exit DNR].

Reptile Species List