Reptiles

Reptiles are a significant component of the native biodiversity in virtually every natural terrestrial and freshwater habitat in the southeastern United States. Despite being often overlooked, reptiles are vital components of southeastern ecosystems. They can serve important roles as both predators and prey, forming critical trophic links in many ecosystems, and can serve as indicators of environmental integrity. Comprehensive accounts of regional species composition and richness are fundamental to initiating meaningful monitoring or research programs applicable to conservation issues.

Up to 60 species of reptiles could possibly occur on the Outer Banks. According to recent investigations of reptile occurrences on the Outer Banks (Tuberville et al. 2005, Gaul and Mitchell 2007), 59 species of reptiles have been documented in Dare County, North Carolina, since 1588. Of these, 32 species of reptiles have been documented at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (highlighted):

 

ALLIGATORS
Alligator mississippiensis	Alligator
TURTLES
Chelydra serpentina	Common snapping turtle
Chrysemys picta	Eastern painted turtle
Clemmys guttata	Spotted turtle
Deirochelys reticularia	Eastern chicken turtle
Kinosternon subrubrum	Eastern mud turtle
Malaclemys terrapin	Diamondback terrapin
Pseudemys concinna	Eastern river cooter
Pseudemys floridana	Florida cooter
Pseudemys rubriventris	Red-bellied turtle
Sternotherus odoratus	Common musk turtle
Terrapene carolina	Eastern box turtle
Trachemys scripta	Yellow-bellied slider
Sea Turtles
Caretta caretta	Loggerhead
Chelonia mydas	Green turtle
Dermochelys coriacea	Leatherback
Lepidochelys kempii	Atlantic ridley
LIZARDS
Anolis carolinensis	Green anole
Cnemidophorus sexlineatus	Six-lined racerunner
Eumeces fasciatus	Five-lined skink
Eumeces inexpectatus	Southeastern five-lined skink
Eumeces laticeps	Broadhead skink
Ophisaurus attenuatus	Slender glass lizard
Ophisaurus mimicus	Mimic glass lizard
Ophisaurus ventralis	Eastern glass lizard
Sceloporus undulatus	Fence lizard
Scincella lateralis	Ground skink
SNAKES
Agkistrodon contortrix	Copperhead
Agkistrodon piscivorus	Cottonmouth
Carphophis amoenus	Worm snake
Cemophora coccinea	Scarlet snake
Coluber constrictor	Black racer
Crotalus horridus	Canebrake rattlesnake
Diadophis punctatus	Ringneck snake
Elaphe guttata	Corn snake
Elaphe obsoleta	Rat snake
Farancia abacura	Mud snake
Farancia erytrogramma	Rainbow snake
Heterodon platirhinos	Eastern hognose snake
Heterodon simus	Southern hognose snake
Lampropeltis calligaster	Mole kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula	Eastern kingsnake
Lampropeltis triangulum	Scarlet kingsnake or milksnake
Masticophis flagellum	Coachwhip
Nerodia erythrogaster	Plainbelly water snake
Nerodia fasciata	Banded water snake
Nerodia sipedon	Northern banded water snake
Nerodia taxispilota	Brown water snake
Opheodrys aestivus	Rough green snake
Regina rigida	Glossy crayfish snake
Rhadinaea flavilata	Pine woods snake
Seminatrix pygaea	Black swamp snake
Sistrurus miliarius	Pigmy rattlesnake
Storeria dekayi	Brown snake
Storeria occipitomaculata	Redbelly snake
Tantilla coronata	Southeastern crowned snake
Thamnophis sauritus	Ribbon snake
Thamnophis sirtalis	Garter snake
Virginia striatula	Rough earth snake

 

Gaul, R.W. and J.C. Mitchell. 2007. The herpetofauna of Dare County, North Carolina: History, natural history, and biogeography. Journal of the North CarolinaAcademyof Science. 123(2): 65-109.

Tuberville, T.D., J.D. Willson, M.E. Dorcas, and J.W. Gibbons. 2005. Herpetofaunal species richness of Southeastern National Parks. Southeastern Naturalist. 4(3): 537-569.