Amphibian and Reptile Facts

Spotted salamander on tree bark
Amphibian and Reptile Facts
Amphibians
  • Amphibians include salamanders, newts, toads, and frogs and spend at least part of their life cycle in water.
  • They are cold-blooded (or ectothermal), which means that they do not produce their own body heat the way birds or mammals do.
  • They seek out cooler or warmer locations to regulate their temperatures.
  • Missouri has 44 species of amphibians, with an additional four subspecies or geographic races.
  • No amphibians in Missouri are venomous — they are harmless to people.
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Reptiles
  • Reptiles evolved from salamander-like creatures about 315 million years ago.
  • Unlike amphibians, reptiles do not have to live part of their life in water.
  • Early reptiles were the first vertebrates to produce shelled eggs that protected their eggs from drying as they developed. This helps reptiles live in dry habitats where amphibians can not survive.
  • Missouri has 74 species of reptiles: 18 different turtles, 11 native lizards, 2 nonnative lizards, and 43 different species and subspecies of snakes.
  • Only five Missouri snake species are venomous to people. Most are shy and normally avoid people.
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View amphibians and reptiles in the field guide
hellbender, a large brown salamander resting in gravelly streambed
This large, harmless aquatic salamander lives in Ozark streams. It is an endangered species.
Anonymous
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
1/30
Photo of a central newt adult on a plastic aquarium plant.
The central newt lives in and around woodland ponds and swamps in all but our far northwestern counties.
Jim Rathert
Photo by Jim Rathert, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
2/30
Image of a ringed salamander
Ring salamander
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
3/30
Photo of a long-tailed salamander on a rotten log.
The long-tailed salamander is agile and can escape predators by using its tail for quick jumps.
Alan Grant, Dept. Environmental Protection, Bugwood.org
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
4/30
Image of an eastern spadefoot
The eastern spadefoot is rare in our state due to draining of wetlands and loss of native sand prairies.
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
5/30
Photo of a Rocky Mountain toad in lawn grass.
The Rocky Mountain toad occurs mainly along the Missouri River and along streams in western Missouri.
Jim Rathert
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
6/30
Image of a western narrow-mouthed toad
Great plains narrow-mouthed toad
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
7/30
American Bullfrog
American bullfrog
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
8/30
Image of a gray treefrog
Gray treefrog
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
9/30
Photo of a plains leopard frog in grass.
The plains leopard frog is found throughout most of Missouri, except for the Ozarks.
Noppadol Paothong
Photo by Noppadol Paothong, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
10/30
Image of an eastern collared lizard
Collared lizard
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
11/30
prairie lizard
Northern fence lizard
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
12/30
Photo of a Texas horned lizard camouflaged against a tan, gravelly substrate.
The Texas horned lizard is stocky and short-tailed, with several large “horns” protruding from the back of the head.
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
13/30
photo of juvenile southern coal skink
Juvenile southern coal skinks are black with faint lines running down the back and sides. They are about 2 inches long when they first hatch.
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
14/30
Photo of Broad-headed skink on ground among leaves
Broad-headed skink
Jim Rathert
Photo by Jim Rathert, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
15/30
Adult male northern prairie skink
Adult male northern prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis septentrionalis) from Harrison County.
Tom R. Johnson
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
16/30
Photo of a snapping turtle on grass gaping at camera.
Snapping turtles occur statewide anywhere there is permanent water.
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
17/30
midland smooth softshell
Midland smooth softshell
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
18/30
eastern river cooter (turtle)
River cooter
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
19/30
three-toed box turtle
Three-toed box turtle
MDC staff
Photo by MDC staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
20/30
broad-banded watersnake
Broad-banded watersnake
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
21/30
Photo of a plains gartersnake taken in Lakewood, Colorado.
The plains gartersnake is an attractive, medium-sized gartersnake with a yellowish-orange stripe down the middle of the back.
Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
22/30
Photo of an eastern hog-nosed snake, closeup showing head.
Eastern hog-nosed snakes feed chiefly on toads but are also known to eat frogs and salamanders.
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
23/30
red milksnake
Red milksnake
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
24/30
prairie ring-necked snake
Prairie ring-necked snake
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
25/30
speckled kingsnake
Speckled kingsnake
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
26/30
northern rough greensnake
The northern rough greensnake is a long and slender snake often seen in the Ozarks.
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
27/30
Photo of a western ratsnake on a bed of dry leaves.
The western ratsnake was long known as the black rat snake, and many know it simply as "black snake."
Jim Rathert
Photo by Jim Rathert, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
28/30
Photo of a cottonmouth snake in defensive posture.
A cottonmouth gapes its mouth open in a defensive posture, showing the white lining that is the origin of the common name.
Noppadol Paothong
Photo by Noppadol Paothong, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
29/30
Image of a western pygmy rattlesnake
Western pygmy rattlesnake
MDC Staff
Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
30/30
hellbender, a large brown salamander resting in gravelly streambed
Photo of a central newt adult on a plastic aquarium plant.
Image of a ringed salamander
Photo of a long-tailed salamander on a rotten log.
Image of an eastern spadefoot
Photo of a Rocky Mountain toad in lawn grass.
Image of a western narrow-mouthed toad
American Bullfrog
Image of a gray treefrog
Photo of a plains leopard frog in grass.
Image of an eastern collared lizard
prairie lizard
Photo of a Texas horned lizard camouflaged against a tan, gravelly substrate.
photo of juvenile southern coal skink
Photo of Broad-headed skink on ground among leaves
Adult male northern prairie skink
Photo of a snapping turtle on grass gaping at camera.
midland smooth softshell
eastern river cooter (turtle)
three-toed box turtle
broad-banded watersnake
Photo of a plains gartersnake taken in Lakewood, Colorado.
Photo of an eastern hog-nosed snake, closeup showing head.
red milksnake
prairie ring-necked snake
speckled kingsnake
northern rough greensnake
Photo of a western ratsnake on a bed of dry leaves.
Photo of a cottonmouth snake in defensive posture.
Image of a western pygmy rattlesnake