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A young Massasauga rattlesnake NPS photo by Phil Slattery |
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The following reptiles have been documented at Padre Island National Seashore. The common and scientific names have been given for each.
Frogs and Toads
Rio Grande Leopard Frog - Rana Berlandieri
Green Treefrog - Hyla cinerea
Hurter's Spadefoot - Scaphiopus hurterii
Spotted Chorus Frog - Pseudacris clarkii
Gulf Coast Toad - Bufo valliceps
Texas Toad - Bufo speciosus
Couch's Spadefoot - Scaphiopus couchii
Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad - astrophryne olivacea
Sea Turtles
Leatherback sea turtle - Dermochelys coriacea
Green sea turtle - Chelonia mydas
Kemp's Ridley sea turtle - Lepidochelys kempii
Hawksbill sea turtle - Eretmochelys imbricata
Loggerhead sea turtle - Caretta caretta
To read the latest news about our sea turtle program, go to the News or Special Events sections of our website.
Terrestrial Turtles
Red-eared Slider - Trachemys scripta elegans
Yellow Mud Turtle - Kinosternon flavescens
Texas Tortoise - Gopherus berlandieri
Common Snapping Turtle - Chelydra serpentina
Ornate Box Turtle - Terrapene ornata
Texas Diamondback Terrapin - Malaclemys terrapin littoralis
Lizards
Keeled Earless Lizard - Holbrookia propinqua
Western Slender Grass Lizard - Ophisaurus attenuatus
Six-lined Racerunner - Cnemidophorus s sexlineatus
Great Plains Skink - Eumeces obsoletus
Texas Spotted Whiptail - Cnemidophorus gularis
Spot-tailed Earless Lizard - Holbrookia laceretus
Mediterranean Gecko - Hemidactylus tursicus
Green Anole - Anolis carolinensis
Ground Skink - Scincella lateralis
Texas Horned Lizard - Phrynosoma cornutum
Rosebelly Lizard - Sceloporus variabilis marmoratus
Texas Spiny Lizard - Sceloprus olivaceus
Snakes
Western Coachwhip - Masticophis flagellum testaceus
Mexican Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum annulata
Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis proximus orarius
Marcy's Checkered Garter Snake - Thamnophis marcianus
Diamondback Water Snake - Nerodia rhombifera
Texas Glossy Snake - Arizona elegans arenicola
Eastern Hognose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos
Racer - Coluber constrictor
Flat Head Snake - Tantilla gracilis
Bullsnake - Pituophis catenifer sayi
Texas Patch Nose Snake - Salvadora rahamiae lineata
Ground Snake - Sonora semiannulata
Gulf Salt Marsh Snake - Nerodia clarkii clarkii
Texas Rat Snake - Elaphe obsoleta lindheimerii
Great Plains Rat Snake - Elaphe guttata emoryi
Rough Earth Snake - Virginia striatula
Marsh Brown Snake - Storeria dekayi limnetes
Texas Brown Snake - Storeria dekayi texana
Desert Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula splendida
Texas Indigo Snake - Drymarchon Corais erebennus
Texas Blind Snake - Leptotyphlops dulcis
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox
Western Massasauga - Sistrurus catenatus tergeminus
Desert Massasauga - Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi
Texas Coral Snake - Micrurus tener
Alligator
American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis
Related Information
Assorted articles on the Kemp's ridley
This link is a collection of articles on the Kemp's ridley from a variety of sources. Some of the sources are from the federal government while others are from private organizations and companies. The National Park Service neither confirms nor denies the accuracy of any of the articles published on this website and does not endorse any political views expressed in articles about sea turtles (or any other animal) appearing on this website.
Houston Chronicle Article of May 28, 2004: Successful Nesting a Good Sign for Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles
This link tells how the increase in numbers of nesting Kemp's ridley sea turtles along the Texas coast demonstrates the success of Padre Island National Seashore's Headstart program and discusses the debate over whether to reinstitute it.
Padre Island National Seashore Administrative History
Read the park's Administrative History for information on the background and founding of the park and to find out the reasoning behind the park's current policies and regulations.
Rancho Nuevo
This article on the Kemp's ridley project at Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico is from the National Marine Fisheries Service-Galveston Laboratory and gives a good overview of the program.
Dr. Shaver returns to the National Park Service
Dr. Donna Shaver is the foremost expert on the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles in the United
States and a leader in sea turtle biology and
recovery. After several years with the US Geological Survey, Dr. Shaver has transferred back to the National Park Service, where she began her career.
Endangered Species in Texas
This is the US Fish and Wildlife Service page listing threatened and endangered plants and animals in Texas.
NPS Scientific Research and Collecting Permit.
This permit is required for scientific activities pertaining to natural resources or social science studies in National Park System areas that involve fieldwork, specimen collection, and/or have the potential to disturb resources or visitors.
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