Statewide

Louisiana Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

Every reptile and amphibian with enough records anywhere in Louisiana, counted from observations inside the state line. Seasons can differ a lot across the state, so for a closer match, pick your ecoregion on the Louisiana page.

60 species3 venomous

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.

Species out in Louisiana, by group and month

Group
Snakes	11	17	19	19	19	17	17	16	15	16	15	12
Lizards	6	8	8	9	9	9	9	8	7	7	7	5
Turtles	5	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	6	2
Frogs and Toads	12	13	15	15	13	13	12	11	11	11	12	12
Salamanders	6	7	7	6	4	2	1	2	2	2	4	4

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

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44 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

LizardsBrown AnoleAnolis sagrei

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesFalse Map TurtleGraptemys pseudogeographica

peak

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreenhouse FrogEleutherodactylus planirostris

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsGulf Coast ToadIncilius nebulifer

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

peak

LizardsSpotted House GeckoHemidactylus parvimaculatus

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsSquirrel Tree FrogDryophytes squirellus

peak

TurtlesThree-toed Box TurtleTerrapene triunguis

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern RatsnakePantherophis obsoletus

shoulder

AlligatorsAmerican AlligatorAlligator mississippiensis

shoulder

SnakesBanded WatersnakeNerodia fasciata

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsBlanchard's Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi

shoulder

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

shoulder

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

shoulder

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

shoulder

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

shoulder

SnakesMississippi Green WatersnakeNerodia cyclopion

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

shoulder

SnakesSpeckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki

shoulder

SalamandersWestern Dwarf SalamanderEurycea paludicola

shoulder

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

About Louisiana

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in Louisiana?

March is the busiest month in Louisiana, with 49 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active all year.

What reptiles and amphibians live in Louisiana?

60 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 19 snakes, 16 frogs and toads, 9 lizards, 8 turtles, 7 salamanders, and 1 alligator. The most-reported are the Green Anole, American Alligator, and Pond Slider.

Are there venomous snakes in Louisiana?

Yes. The Northern Cottonmouth, Eastern Copperhead, and Timber Rattlesnake live here. Don't handle them.

Which reptiles and amphibians in Louisiana are introduced?

The Brown Anole, Mediterranean House Gecko, Spotted House Gecko, and Greenhouse Frog are not native here.

Where does this data come from?

Activity calendars are built from iNaturalist research-grade observations (downloaded through GBIF, September 2026), corrected for how many people are out observing each month. Rare and protected species are left off on purpose.