Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in California in December

50 reptiles and amphibians are active in California in December, and 25 are at peak. Peak species include the Pacific Chorus Frog, California Newt, California Slender Salamander, and Pond Slider.

Counted from iNaturalist research-grade observations recorded inside California. Seasons shift across the state, so for a closer match, pick your ecoregion.

Full 12-month California calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across California, by group and month

Group
Snakes	9	27	33	37	38	38	37	38	36	32	23	8
Lizards	17	27	33	37	38	38	36	36	35	32	22	13
Turtles	2	2	4	4	4	3	3	3	3	2	2	2
Frogs and Toads	7	9	9	9	11	11	11	11	10	9	7	7
Salamanders	20	20	19	18	13	10	7	7	10	18	20	20

Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).

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At peak in December 25

Snakes

peak

SnakesBrahminy BlindsnakeIndotyphlops braminus

introduced

peak

SnakesCommon Sharp-tailed SnakeContia tenuis

Lizards

peak

LizardsIsland Night LizardXantusia riversiana

peak

LizardsSan Diegan Legless LizardAnniella stebbinsi

Turtles

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsPacific Chorus FrogPseudacris regilla

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersArboreal SalamanderAneides lugubris

peak

SalamandersBlack-bellied Slender SalamanderBatrachoseps nigriventris

peak

SalamandersCalifornia Giant SalamanderDicamptodon ensatus

peak

SalamandersCalifornia NewtTaricha torosa

peak

SalamandersCalifornia Slender SalamanderBatrachoseps attenuatus

peak

SalamandersDel Norte SalamanderPlethodon elongatus

peak

SalamandersEnsatinaEnsatina eschscholtzii

peak

SalamandersGabilan Mountains Slender SalamanderBatrachoseps gavilanensis

peak

SalamandersGregarious Slender SalamanderBatrachoseps gregarius

peak

SalamandersKlamath Black SalamanderAneides klamathensis

peak

SalamandersLong-toed SalamanderAmbystoma macrodactylum

peak

SalamandersNorthwestern SalamanderAmbystoma gracile

peak

SalamandersPacific Giant SalamanderDicamptodon tenebrosus

peak

SalamandersRough-skinned NewtTaricha granulosa

peak

SalamandersSanta Lucia Mountains Slender SalamanderBatrachoseps luciae

peak

SalamandersSouthern California Slender SalamanderBatrachoseps major

peak

SalamandersSouthern Torrent SalamanderRhyacotriton variegatus

peak

SalamandersSpeckled Black SalamanderAneides flavipunctatus

peak

SalamandersWandering SalamanderAneides vagrans

Shoulder season in December 25

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesAquatic Garter SnakeThamnophis atratus

shoulder

SnakesCoast Night SnakeHypsiglena ochrorhynchus

shoulder

SnakesCoastal Rosy BoaLichanura orcutti

shoulder

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

shoulder

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

shoulder

SnakesWestern Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsBanded Rock LizardPetrosaurus mearnsi

shoulder

LizardsCommon Side-blotched LizardUta stansburiana

shoulder

LizardsDesert Night LizardXantusia vigilis

shoulder

LizardsGilbert's SkinkPlestiodon gilberti

shoulder

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

introduced

shoulder

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

shoulder

LizardsNorthern Alligator LizardElgaria coerulea

shoulder

LizardsNorthern Legless LizardAnniella pulchra

shoulder

LizardsSouthern Alligator LizardElgaria multicarinata

shoulder

LizardsWestern Fence LizardSceloporus occidentalis

shoulder

LizardsWestern SkinkPlestiodon skiltonianus

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

introduced

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAfrican Clawed FrogXenopus laevis

introduced

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

introduced

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCalifornia Tree FrogPseudacris cadaverina

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Red-legged FrogRana aurora

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsRed-spotted ToadAnaxyrus punctatus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWestern ToadAnaxyrus boreas

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersSierra NewtTaricha sierrae

Peak and shoulder ratings are rough guidance, not a schedule. Weather, elevation and the year can shift any species by weeks.

Rare and protected species are left off on purpose. Look, don't take, and never handle a venomous snake.

California in December

What reptiles and amphibians are out in California in December?

50 reptiles and amphibians are active in California in December, and 25 are at peak. Peak species include the Pacific Chorus Frog, California Newt, California Slender Salamander, and Pond Slider.

Are venomous snakes active in California in December?

No venomous snakes on this list are active in California in December.