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Western New York Snake and Lizard Guide

Listed below are the 15 snake species and 4 lizard species that can be found in various parts of Western New York. Click on the name of the species for more information.

Lizards

• Northern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus)
• Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis sicula)
• Five-Lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)
• Northern Coal Skink (Eumeces a. anthracinus)

Snakes

• Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)
• Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata)
• Northern Brown Snake (Storeria dekay)
• Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)
• Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
• Shorthead Garter Snake (Thamnophis brachystoma)
• Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)
• Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
• Northern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus)
• Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)
• Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)
• Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
• Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)
• Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)
    ** - VENOMOUS - ** **- ENDANGERED -**
• Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
    ** - VENOMOUS - ** **- THREATENED -**

Please remember when you are out and about on your herping adventures that it is illegal to collect most wild specimens without the proper permits from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. So please remember that you can catch and photograph many of these species but be sure to put them back where you found them so that they can continue their necessary part in the environment.

We are currently working on providing pictures for all of the species listed here. Please bear with us as we continue to add new photos to help with your identification. If you have photos to share then .

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