Statewide

New Mexico Reptiles and Amphibians by Month

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

72 species7 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 New Mexico, by group and month

Group
Snakes			5	14	23	25	25	25	22	17	5
Lizards	1	4	13	24	25	25	26	26	24	18	7	1
Turtles	1	2	4	5	6	6	6	6	5	4	1	1
Frogs and Toads		1	1	4	12	13	13	13	10	6	1
Salamanders				1	1	2	2	2	2	1

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

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63 species at peak or shoulder in September

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

introduced

peak

SnakesBig Bend Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora deserticola

peak

SnakesBlack-necked Garter SnakeThamnophis cyrtopsis

peak

SnakesCheckered Garter SnakeThamnophis marcianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsChihuahuan Green ToadAnaxyrus debilis

peak

SnakesChihuahuan NightsnakeHypsiglena jani

peak

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

peak

LizardsCommon Side-blotched LizardUta stansburiana

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

LizardsCrevice Spiny LizardSceloporus poinsettii

peak

LizardsDesert Grassland WhiptailAspidoscelis uniparens

peak

SnakesDesert KingsnakeLampropeltis splendida

peak

SnakesEastern Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus ornatus

venomous

peak

SnakesGlossy SnakeArizona elegans

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreat Plains ToadAnaxyrus cognatus

peak

LizardsGreater Earless LizardCophosaurus texanus

peak

LizardsGreater Short-horned LizardPhrynosoma hernandesi

peak

SnakesLong-nosed SnakeRhinocheilus lecontei

peak

LizardsMadrean Alligator LizardElgaria kingii

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsMexican SpadefootSpea multiplicata

peak

SnakesMojave RattlesnakeCrotalus scutulatus

venomous

peak

SnakesMountain Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora grahamiae

peak

LizardsNew Mexico WhiptailAspidoscelis neomexicanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiens

peak

TurtlesOrnate Box TurtleTerrapene ornata

peak

LizardsOrnate Tree LizardUrosaurus ornatus

peak

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

peak

SnakesPlains Black-headed SnakeTantilla nigriceps

peak

SnakesPlains Hognose SnakeHeterodon nasicus

peak

Frogs and ToadsPlains Leopard FrogLithobates blairi

peak

LizardsPlateau Fence LizardSceloporus tristichus

peak

SnakesPrairie RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis

venomous

peak

Frogs and ToadsRed-spotted ToadAnaxyrus punctatus

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRock RattlesnakeCrotalus lepidus

venomous

peak

SnakesSmooth GreensnakeOpheodrys vernalis

peak

LizardsSouthwestern Fence LizardSceloporus cowlesi

peak

SnakesStriped WhipsnakeMasticophis taeniatus

peak

LizardsTwin-spotted Spiny LizardSceloporus bimaculosus

peak

SnakesWestern Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus molossus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans

peak

SalamandersWestern Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma mavortium

peak

Frogs and ToadsWoodhouse's ToadAnaxyrus woodhousii

shoulder

LizardsArizona Striped WhiptailAspidoscelis arizonae

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCanyon Tree FrogDryophytes arenicolor

shoulder

LizardsChihuahuan Spotted WhiptailAspidoscelis exsanguis

shoulder

LizardsClark's Spiny LizardSceloporus clarkii

shoulder

LizardsCommon Checkered WhiptailAspidoscelis tesselatus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCouch's SpadefootScaphiopus couchii

shoulder

LizardsEastern Collared LizardCrotaphytus collaris

shoulder

LizardsGreat Plains SkinkPlestiodon obsoletus

shoulder

LizardsLong-nosed Leopard LizardGambelia wislizenii

shoulder

LizardsPlateau Striped WhiptailAspidoscelis velox

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

shoulder

LizardsRoundtail Horned LizardPhrynosoma modestum

shoulder

SalamandersSacramento Mountain SalamanderAneides hardii

shoulder

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

shoulder

LizardsTexas Horned LizardPhrynosoma cornutum

shoulder

LizardsWestern Earless LizardHolbrookia maculata

About New Mexico

When are reptiles and amphibians most active in New Mexico?

July is the busiest month in New Mexico, with 68 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from April through October.

What reptiles and amphibians live in New Mexico?

72 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 26 lizards, 25 snakes, 13 frogs and toads, 6 turtles, and 2 salamanders. The most-reported are the Southwestern Fence Lizard, Common Side-blotched Lizard, and Gopher Snake.

Are there venomous snakes in New Mexico?

Yes. The Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Prairie Rattlesnake, Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Mojave Rattlesnake, Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Rock Rattlesnake, and Western Massasauga live here. Don't handle them.

Which reptiles and amphibians in New Mexico are introduced?

The American Bullfrog and Mediterranean House Gecko 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.