Field Guide

Reptiles and Amphibians

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results
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.
Image of a six-lined racerunner lizard
Prairie Racerunner
Aspidoscelis sexlineata viridis
Prairie racerunners are fast, alert, ground-dwelling lizards. They live in open areas like fields, grasslands, and rocky, south-facing hillsides, including Ozark glades. They are related to the whiptail lizards that live in the western United States.
Prairie lizard
Prairie Lizard
Sceloporus consobrinus
The prairie lizard is a small, gray to brown, rough-scaled lizard common in open forests. It often lives around country homes and rock gardens and on stacks of firewood and split rail fences.
Image of a prairie ring-necked snake
Prairie Ring-Necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus arnyi
Prairie ring-necked snakes are easily recognizable by their small size, uniform dark color on the back, bright yellow-orange belly, and distinct yellow ring around the neck. Secretive, but common nearly statewide.
Image of a five-lined skink
Common Five-Lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
The common five-lined skink is one of Missouri's most abundant skinks. Adults are olive or tan with lengthwise stripes. It is often called the blue-tailed skink for the coloration of juveniles. Occurs nearly statewide.
See Also

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.