Field Guide

Reptiles and Amphibians

Showing 21 - 30 of 64 results
Photo of researcher holding a gilled siren
Western Lesser Siren
Siren intermedia nettingi
The western lesser siren is an eel-like, aquatic salamander with external gills, small eyes, small forelimbs with four toes, and no hind limbs. In Missouri, it’s found mostly in the Bootheel and northward in counties near the Mississippi River.
Photo of a long-tailed salamander on a rotten log.
Eastern Long-Tailed Salamander and Dark-Sided Salamander
Eurycea longicauda longicauda (eastern dark-sided salamander) and E. l. melanopleura (dark-sided salamander)
The eastern long-tailed salamander and closely related dark-sided salamander are agile and can escape predators by using their tails for quick jumps. They live in the southern and eastern parts of Missouri.
Photo of an eastern yellow-bellied racer.
Eastern Yellow-Bellied Racer and Southern Black Racer
Coluber constrictor flaviventris (eastern yellow-bellied racer) and Coluber constrictor priapus (southern black racer)
The eastern yellow-bellied racer is uniformly tan, brown, olive, blue, gray, or nearly black on top, with a yellow, cream, or light blue-gray belly. It occurs nearly statewide. The southern black racer subspecies also lives in the southeastern half of the state.
Black snake with orange and yellow stripes crossing a gravel road.
Orange-Striped Ribbonsnake
Thamnophis proximus proximus
The orange-striped ribbonsnake is a type of gartersnake named for the attractive orange or yellow stripes running the length of its body, alternating with wide black stripes. It is found statewide, but seldom far from water.
Image of a speckled kingsnake
Speckled Kingsnake
Lampropeltis holbrooki
The speckled kingsnake is generally black, but a white or yellow spot in the center of most of the scales makes it look speckled. The belly is yellowish with some irregular black markings. A harmless, beneficial snake found nearly statewide.
Red River mudpuppy resting on a gravel stream bottom
Common Mudpuppy
Necturus maculosus maculosus
Mudpuppies are aquatic salamanders that have plumelike external gills throughout their entire lives. They’re found in the southern half and along the eastern edge of Missouri.
Photo of a northern scarletsnake on a rock surface in Georgia.
Northern Scarletsnake
Cemophora coccinea copei
One of Missouri's most brilliantly colored snakes is also extremely rare to find. The northern scarletsnake is similar in pattern and color to the more common red milksnake but has a red or orange snout and a spotless, white belly.
Image of a red milksnake
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum
The harmless eastern milksnake is white, yellow, or light tan, with red or orange blotches bordered with black. The belly is white and strongly checked with black. This species often is misidentified as the venomous coralsnake, which is not found in Missouri.
Eastern Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigra
Until recently, the eastern black kingsnake was known to occur only east of the Mississippi River, but individuals of this species have been verified in southeastern Missouri.
Image of a blanding's turtle
Blanding's Turtle
Emydoidea blandingii
Blanding’s turtle has an oval, moderately high-domed upper shell and a long head and neck. This turtle is endangered in Missouri and occurs only in the extreme northern corners of the state.
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About Reptiles and Amphibians in Missouri

Missouri’s herptiles comprise 43 amphibians and 75 reptiles. Amphibians, including salamanders, toads, and frogs, are vertebrate animals that spend at least part of their life cycle in water. They usually have moist skin, lack scales or claws, and are ectothermal (cold-blooded), so they do not produce their own body heat the way birds and mammals do. Reptiles, including turtles, lizards, and snakes, are also vertebrates, and most are ectothermal, but unlike amphibians, reptiles have dry skin with scales, the ones with legs have claws, and they do not have to live part of their lives in water.