Statewide

Missouri Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

Every reptile and amphibian with enough records anywhere in Missouri, 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 Missouri page.

62 species4 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 Missouri, by group and month

Group
Snakes	1	5	22	23	24	20	17	19	21	20	14	3
Lizards		3	4	6	6	6	6	5	3	3	2
Turtles	1	3	5	8	10	10	9	9	8	6	4	1
Frogs and Toads	2	7	10	10	9	10	11	9	10	10	6	2
Salamanders	1	7	9	9	6	4	4	4	5	6	4

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

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47 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsBlanchard's Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SalamandersDark-sided SalamanderEurycea melanopleura

peak

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

Frogs and ToadsPlains Leopard FrogLithobates blairi

peak

SnakesPrairie KingsnakeLampropeltis calligaster

peak

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

peak

SnakesPygmy RattlesnakeSistrurus miliarius

venomous

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

peak

TurtlesThree-toed Box TurtleTerrapene triunguis

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern RatsnakePantherophis obsoletus

peak

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

shoulder

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

shoulder

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

shoulder

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

shoulder

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

shoulder

SnakesEastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum

shoulder

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

shoulder

SnakesLined SnakeTropidoclonion lineatum

shoulder

TurtlesOrnate Box TurtleTerrapene ornata

shoulder

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

SnakesSpeckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki

shoulder

SalamandersWestern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon albagula

About Missouri

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in Missouri?

April is the busiest month in Missouri, with 51 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from March through November.

What reptiles and amphibians live in Missouri?

62 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 24 snakes, 13 frogs and toads, 10 turtles, 9 salamanders, and 6 lizards. The most-reported are the Three-toed Box Turtle, Blanchard's Cricket Frog, and American Toad.

Are there venomous snakes in Missouri?

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

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.