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Related Links
 |--Sharp-tailed Snake

Reptiles of San Franscisco Bay Area

Pacific Pond Turtle
Pacific Pond Turtle - Actinemys marmorata (Walnut Creek)
Southern Alligator Lizard
Southern Alligator Lizard - Elgaria multicarinata (Pleasanton)
Western Fence Lizard
Western Fence Lizard - Sceloporus occidentalis (Mines Road)
Blainville's Horned Lizard
Blainville's Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma blainvillii (Mount Diablo)
Aquatic Gartersnake
Aquatic Gartersnake - Thamnophis atratus (Mines Road)
California Red-sided Gartersnake
California Red-sided Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis (Mines Road)
Sharp-tailed Snake
Sharp-tailed Snake - Contia tenuis (Pleasanton)
California Kingsnake
California Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula (Pleasanton)
Gopher Snake
Gopher Snake - Pituophis catenifer (Mines Road)
Western Rattlesnake
Western Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus (Mines Road)

The San Francisco Bay Area boasts several species of reptiles, including different types of snakes and lizards. Although generally harder to see, Bay Area reptiles are an interesting part of the local fauna. All the common species of reptiles found in the Bay Area are listed here.

Sea Turtles

  1. Leatherback Sea Turtle - Dermochelys coriacea

Turtles and Tortoises

  1. Pacific (Western) Pond Turtle - Actinemys marmorata
  2. Red-eared Slider - Trachemys scripta elegans (introduced,not native)

Lizards

  1. Western Fence Lizard - Sceloporus occidentalis
  2. Sagebrush Lizard - Sceloporus graciosus
  3. Western Skink - Eumeces skiltonianus
  4. Gilbert's Skink - Plestiodon gilberti
  5. California (Southern) Alligator Lizard - Elgaria multicarinata
  6. Northern Alligator Lizard - Elgaria coerulea
  7. Tiger (California/Western) Whiptail - Aspidoscelis tigris munda
  8. Blainville's (Coast) Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma blainvillii
  9. California Legless Lizard - Anniella pulchra

Snakes

  1. Rubber Boa - Charina bottae
  2. Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans
  3. Western Yellow-bellied Racer - Coluber constrictor
  4. Alameda Striped Racer (Alameda Whipsnake) - Coluber lateralis euryxanthus (Endangered)
  5. California Striped Racer - Coluber lateralis lateralis
  6. Sharp-tailed Snake - Contia tenuis
  7. Forest Sharp-tailed Snake - Contia longicaudae (recently discovered)
  8. Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus
  9. California Nightsnake - Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha nuchalata
  10. Common Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula
  11. California Mountain Kingsnake - Lampropeltis zonata
  12. Gopher Snake - Pituophis catenifer
  13. Long-nosed Snake - Rhinocheilus lecontei
  14. Western Black-headed Snake - Tantilla planiceps
  15. Aquatic Gartersnake - Thamnophis atratus
  16. Western Terrestrial Gartersnake - Thamnophis elegans
  17. California Red-sided Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis
  18. San Francisco Gartersnake - Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia
  19. Western Rattlesnake - Crotalus oreganus

Reptile Articles/Links

  • Nice little guide, with photos, to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Bay Area by Gary Nafis on californiaherps.com  ...link 
  • A photographic guide to snakes of the Bay Area by Richard Stallcup.  ...link 
  • Identifying California Lizards page at CaliforniaHerps.com. This is a wonderful site with a lot of technical details about each species.  ...link 
  • Identifying California Snakes page at CaliforniaHerps.com.  ...link 
  • East Bay Parks identification guide for snakes.  ...link 
  • Online Guide to reptiles of Marin County with photos and descriptions.  ...link 
  • Amphibians and Reptiles of Henry W. Coe State Park  ...link 
  • Pacific (Western) Pond Turtle education resource including printable brocure by Matthew Bettelheim  ...link 
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