Field Guide

Reptiles and Amphibians

Showing 1 - 10 of 16 results
Image of a plains hog-nosed snake
Plains Hog-Nosed Snake
Heterodon nasicus
The plains hog-nosed snake has probably been extirpated from Missouri. It has a sharply upturned snout, black pigment on the underside of the tail, and was only known from the loess hill region of extreme northwest Missouri.
Image of a western foxsnake
Western Foxsnake
Pantherophis ramspotti
The western foxsnake is a moderately large snake with distinct brown blotches. In Missouri, it is rare and found only in our far northwestern counties.
Eastern Foxsnake
Pantherophis vulpinus
The eastern foxsnake is extremely similar to the western foxsnake and is mainly identified by its different geographic distribution: in Missouri, this rare species is found only in a few counties along the Mississippi River floodplain north from St. Louis.
Image of a bullsnake
Bullsnake
Pituophis catenifer sayi
Missouri's largest snake, the bullsnake may hiss loudly and vibrate its tail when alarmed, but it is nonvenomous. This species is extremely valuable in controlling destructive rodents.
Image of a massasauga
Prairie Massasauga
Sistrurus tergeminus tergeminus
The prairie massasauga is a medium-sized rattlesnake associated with bottomland prairie habitats in north-central and northwestern Missouri. This endangered species is shy, reclusive, and nonaggressive.
Kirtland's snake curled and resting on a dry, sandy substrate
Kirtland's Snake
Clonophis kirtlandii
Kirtland’s snake is extremely rare and occurs in only a few states in the Midwest. It lives in crayfish burrows in grassland habitats that are damp and near a stream or wetland. It is restricted in Missouri to a few northeastern counties.
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.
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.
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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.