Washington Reptiles

Order Testudinata: Turtles

Chelydridae: Snapping Turtles
Chelydra serpentina, Snapping Turtle. Ponds and lakes. Introduced west of Cascades, possibly established locally.

Testudinidae: Pond Turtles
Chrysemys picta, Painted Turtle. Ponds and lakes. East of Cascades and out to coast along Columbia River, also many introduced populations west of Cascades.

Clemmys marmorata, Western Pond Turtle. Ponds and slow streams. Formerly local near Puget Sound in King, Pierce, and Thurston counties, and near Columbia River in Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat counties, now virtually extirpated.

Trachemys scripta, Slider. Lakes. Introduced in Puget Sound region.

Cheloniidae: Sea Turtles
Caretta caretta, Loggerhead Turtle. Marine. Occurs rarely offshore.

Chelonia mydas, Green Turtle. Marine. Occurs rarely offshore.

Lepidochelys olivacea, Pacific Ridley. Marine. Occurs rarely offshore.

Dermochelyidae: Leatherback Turtle
Dermochelys coriacea, Leatherback Turtle. Marine. Occurs regularly offshore.

Order Squamata

Suborder Sauria: Lizards

Iguanidae: Iguanid Lizards
Phrynosoma douglassii, Short-horned Lizard. Sagebrush steppe and grassland. Columbia Basin.

Sceloporus graciosus, Sagebrush Lizard. Sagebrush steppe. Columbia Basin.

Sceloporus occidentalis, Western Fence Lizard. Many habitats, usually wooded. Local around Puget Sound, east slope of Cascades, and Blue Mountains.

Uta stansburiana, Side-blotched Lizard. Sagebrush steppe. Columbia River from Douglas County southward.

Scincidae: Skinks
Eumeces skiltonianus, Western Skink. Dry woodland and sagebrush, often near rocks and water. Throughout east of Cascades.

Anguidae: Anguid Lizards
Elgaria coerulea, Northern Alligator Lizard. Forest. Northern border of state and from east slope of Cascades west to coast.

Elgaria multicarinata, Southern Alligator Lizard. Dry oak, pine, and riparian woodland. Lower east slope of Cascades from Kittitas County southward.

Suborder Serpentes: Snakes

Boidae: Boas
Charina bottae, Rubber Boa. Forest and dry woodland. Throughout state except center of Columbia Basin; much more often seen east of Cascades.

Colubridae: Colubird Snakes
Coluber constrictor, Racer. Sagebrush steppe, grassland, and open woodland. Throughout east of Cascades; formerly present in Puget Sound area.

Contia tenuis, Sharptail Snake. Forest or grassland, usually in moist areas. Very local in Pierce, Skamania, Chelan, Kittitas, and Klickitat counties; perhaps extirpated from western Washington.

Diadophis punctatus, Ringneck Snake. Dry woodland. Very local in southern third of state.

Hypsiglena torquata, Night Snake. Rocky areas in sagebrush steppe. Along Columbia, Okanogan, and Snake rivers.

Lampropeltis zonata, California Mountain Kingsnake. Oak woodland, often in canyons. Along Columbia River in Skamania and Klickitat counties; rare.

Masticophis taeniatus, Striped Whipsnake. Sagebrush steppe. Sagebrush steppe. Southern part of Columbia Basin.

Pituophis catenifer, Gopher Snake. All open habitats including dry woodland. Widespread east of Cascades.

Thamnophis elegans, Western Terrestrial Garter Snake. Open woodland, wetlands, also streams in steppe. Throughout state but more local west of Cascades than other garter snakes.

Thamnophis ordinoides, Northwestern Garter Snake. Moist woodland, wetlands, and meadows. West of Cascades and local in Kittitas County.

Thamnophis sirtalis, Common Garter Snake. Open woodland, meadows, wetlands, also lakes and streams in steppe. Throughout state.

Viperidae: Vipers
Crotalus viridis, Western Rattlesnake. Rocky areas (usually) in sagebrush steppe, grassland, and dry woodland. Throughout east of Cascades.