Amphibians and Reptiles in Massachusetts

List of amphibians and reptiles found in Massachusetts.

Amphibians

Caudata: Necturidae (Mudpuppies and Waterdogs)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
MudpuppyNecturus maculosusIntroduced to the Connecticut River drainage in Amherst prior to 1936. However, these are records from the Connecticut River in Connecticut as early as 1875. Also reported from a few lakes in southern Berkshire County. Occur naturally in Lake Champlain in Vermont and in the Hudson River, but were probably introduced to the western Massachusetts locales.
Caudata: Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Jefferson Salamander*Ambystoma jeffersonianumBerkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and western Worcester counties. Listed as a Species of Special Concern.
Blue-spotted Salamander*Ambystoma lateraleBristol, Plymouth, Norfolk, Suffolk, Middlesex, and Essex counties; eastern and southern Worcester County; eastern Hampden and Hampshire counties; southern Berkshire County. Listed as a Species of Special Concern.
Spotted SalamanderAmbystoma maculatumStatewide except Nantucket County
Marbled Salamander*Ambystoma opacumFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Bristol counties; southern and eastern Worcester County. One population still known from each of Berkshire and Plymouth counties; possibly extirpated from Essex County. Listed as Threatened.

Polyploid species formerly described as Tremblay's Salamander (Ambystoma tremblayi) and Silvery Salamander (Ambystoma platineum) are now considered to be genetic variants of the Jefferson/Blue-spotted Salamander complex, containing 2-4 sets of chromosomes.

Salamandridae (Newts)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Eastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescensStatewide except for Nantucket and possibly Suffolk counties
Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Northern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscusStatewide except Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.
Eastern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereusStatewide
Four-toed SalamanderHemidactylium scutatumStatewide
Spring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticusBerkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties.
Northern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineataStatewide except for Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Anura: Pelobatidae (Spadefoot)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Eastern SpadefootScaphiopus holbrookiiBristol, Barnstable, and Dukes counties. One population still known from each of Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Essex, Middlesex, and Plymouth counties. Likely extirpated from Suffolk and Norfolk counties. Uncertain status in Nantucket County. Listed as Threatened.
Bufonidae (True Toads)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
American ToadAnaxyrus americanusStatewide except Nantucket County.
Fowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleriStatewide; possibly extirpated from Nantucket County.
Hylidae (True Tree Frogs)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Spring PeeperPseudacris cruciferStatewide
Gray TreefrogHyla versicolorStatewide except for Martha's Vineyard island and Nantucket County.
Ranidae (True Frogs)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
American BullfrogLithobates catesbeianusStatewide; likely introduced to Dukes Nantucket counties.
Green FrogLithobates clamitansStatewide
Pickerel FrogLithobates palustrisStatewide
Northern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiensStatewide except Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. Potentially declining in Bristol and Plymouth counties.
Wood FrogLithobates sylvaticusStatewide except for Dukes and Nantucket counties.

Reptiles

Testudines: Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles)
Common NameScientific NameDistribution
Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentinaStatewide.
Kinosternidae (Mud and Musk Turtles)
Common NameScientific NameDistribution
Eastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratusStatewide except Berkshire, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.
Emydidae (Pond Turtles)
Common NameScientific NameDistribution
Painted TurtleChrysemys pictaStatewide
Spotted TurtleClemmys guttataStatewide except northern Berkshire County.
Wood Turtle*Gleptemys insculptaStatewide north and west of northern Bristol and Plymouth counties. Not native to Barnstable Country. Listed as a Species of Special Concern.
Bog Turtle*Gleptemys muhlenbergiiBerkshire County only. Listed as Endangered in Massachusetts and Threatened at the federal level.
Blanding's Turtle*Emydoidea blandingiiBristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Worcester counties. Listed as Threatened.
Diamond-backed Terrapin*Malaclemmys terrapinCoastal areas of Barnstable, Bristol, and Plymouth counties. Rare reports from Essex County. Listed as Threatened.
Northern Red-bellied Cooter*Pseudemys rubriventrisPlymouth and Bristol counties. Listed as Endangered both in Massachusetts and at the federal level.
Eastern Box Turtle*Terrapene carolinaStatewide except Berkshire County. Listed as a Species of Special Concern.
Testudines: Cheloniidae (Sea Turtles)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Loggerhead Sea Turtle*Caretta carettaEssex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. Listed as Threatened both in Massachusetts and at the federal level (Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment).
Green Sea Turtle*Chelonia mydasUncommon. Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. Listed as Threatened both in Massachusetts and federally (North Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment).
Hawksbill Sea Turtle*Eretmochelys imbricataUncommon. Barnstable County. Listed as Endangered both in Massachusetts and federally.
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle*Lepidochelys kempiiUncommon. Essex, Suffolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties. Listed as Endangered both in Massachusetts and federally.
Testudines: Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Leatherback Sea Turtle*Dermochelys coriaceaEssex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. Listed as Endangered both in Massachusetts and federally.
Lacertilia: Scincidae (Skinks)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Common Five-lined SkinkEumeces fasciatusNo extant populations known in Massachusetts, although the species is native to Vermont, New York, and Connecticut. Recorded from Worcester county before 1840 and Bristol County in 1869. Both historic records are atypical locations for this species.
Serpentes: Colubridae (Harmless Snakes)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Eastern Wormsnake*Carphophis amoenusConnecticut River Valley in Hampden County. Listed as Threatened.
North American RacerColuber constrictorStatewide except Berkshire and Nantucket counties. Local subspecies known as Black Racer.
Ring-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatusStatewide
Eastern Ratsnake*Pantherophis allegheniensisFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties. Local subspecies known as Black Rat Snake. Listed as Endangered.
Eastern Hog-nosed SnakeHeterodon platirhinosBarnstable, Bristol, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Plymouth, Middlesex, and Worcester counties. Listed as Special Concern.
MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulumStatewide
Northern WatersnakeNerodia sipedonStatewide except Dukes County.
Smooth GreensnakeOpheodrys vernalisStatewide
DeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayiStatewide except Martha's Vineyard island and Nantucket County.
Red-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculataStatewide except Nantucket County. Local subspecies known as Black Racer.
Eastern RibbonsnakeThamnophis sauritusStatewide
Common GartersnakeThamnophis sirtalisStatewide
Squamata: Viperidae (Vipers and Pit Vipers)
Common nameScientific nameDistribution
Copperhead*Agkistrodon contortrixHampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk counties. Listed as Endangered.
Timber Rattlesnake*Crotalus horridusBerkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk counties. Listed as Endangered.

*Species appearing on the current list of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species in Massachusetts as authorized by M.G.L. c. 131A, §4.

Download the printable list of amphibians and reptiles of Massachusetts here.

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