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Content tagged with "Reptiles and Amphibians"

Upland Chorus Frog

Image of an upland chorus frog
Pseudacris feriarum
Earlier considered a subspecies of western chorus frog, the upland chorus frog is now recognized as a separate species. In Missouri, it’s only found in the Mississippi Lowlands of southeastern Missouri. More

Variable Groundsnake

Image of a variable groundsnake
Sonora semiannulata semiannulata
A small, secretive, shiny snake that is highly variable in color. It can be gray, brown, orange or even red with or without dark bands, and it has a plain white or cream colored belly with dark transverse bars on the tail. More

Western Chicken Turtle

Deirochelys reticularia miaria
This is a small-to medium-sized turtle with an oval shell and extremely long neck. More

Western Cottonmouth

Image of a western cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma
Many people mistakenly believe that any snake seen in or near the water is this venomous “water moccasin.” But there are seven species of nonvenomous, semi-aquatic snakes found in Missouri. Harmless watersnakes vastly outnumber the much-feared cottonmouths. All are protected by law. More

Western Foxsnake

Image of a western foxsnake
Pantherophis vulpinus
This is a marsh-dwelling member of the ratsnake group. General color is yellowish, greenish-brown or tan, with large brown blotches on the back and smaller ones on the sides. Its status in Missouri is rare. More

Western Mudsnake

Image of a western mudsnake
Farancia abacura reinwardtii
This harmless swamp-dweller is sometimes called the “hoop snake” or the “stinging snake” based on misinformation and imaginative folklore. In the case of this snake, it turns out that fact is more interesting than fiction. More

Western Narrow-Mouthed Toad

Image of a western narrow-mouthed toad
Gastrophryne olivacea
Like the eastern narrow-mouthed toad, this species has a plump body, small pointed head and a fold of skin behind the eyes. This species is typically uniform in color from tan to gray or olive green and has a white belly. More

Western Painted Turtle

painted turtle
Chrysemys picta bellii
This brightly colored, small, semiaquatic turtle has a smooth upper shell. More

Western Pygmy Rattlesnake

Image of a western pygmy rattlesnake
Sistrurus miliarius streckeri
One of the smallest rattlesnakes on the continent, this species has a thin tail and a tiny rattle. The sound of the vibrating rattle is a faint buzz that is like the sound of a grasshopper. It's found in some Missouri counties bordering with Arkansas and in the eastern Missouri Ozarks. More

Western Slender Glass Lizard

Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus
Missouri's longest species of lizard is often called a "glass snake" because it is long, slender and legless. However, glass lizards are true lizards, with eyelids and ear openings; snakes have neither of these characteristics. More
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