Reptiles

It is a common misconception that only cactus and reptiles live in the desert. There are certainly a lot of snakes and lizards - Tonto National Monument is home to at least 32 species, but there are many other animals as well. To view a list of animals at Tonto National Monument, click on the link. To learn more about the animals shown, click on their picture.

Reptiles have watertight skin and do not need to live near water. Even so, they do not always have an easy time; because they cannot control their body temperature, they must move from sun to shade to be able to function well. Snakes may even die if they are not able to find shade on a hot summer day.

Several species of snake are poisonous, most notable are the various kinds of rattlesnake. If you see a snake, admire it from a distance. Leave handling them to the professionals. Most bites occur when people try to handle or kill snakes.

Recommendations from our bookstore:
A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert edited by Steven J. Phillips and Patricia Wentworth Comus
National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southwestern States by Peter Alden and Peter Friederici
50 Common Reptiles & Amphibians of the Southwest by Jonathan Hanson and Rosemary Beggy Hanson
Snakes and Other Reptiles of the Southwest by Erik D. Stoops and Annette Wright

Ground Snake	Western Patchnose Snake	Longnose Snake
Sonoran Collared Lizard	Regal Horned Lizard	Greater Earless Lizard