San Francisco Amphibians & Reptiles

San Francisco's Amphibians & Reptiles

SFPS

Checklist of San Francisco Amphibians & Reptiles

Salamanders

Arboreal Salamander Aneides lugubris
California Slender Salamander Batrachoseps attenuatus
Yellow-eyed Salamander Ensatina eschscholtzi xanthoptica
Coast Range Newt Taricha torosa torosa

Frogs & Toads

California Toad Bufo boreas halophilus
Pacific Treefrog Hyla regilla
Red-legged Frog Rana aurora draytonii
Bullfrog* Rana catesbeiana

Turtles

Western Pond Turtle Emys marmorata
Red-eared Slider* Trachemys scripta
Soft-shell Turtles* Apalone sp.

Lizards

Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis
Western Skink Eumeces skiltonianus
Southern Alligator Lizard Elgaria multicarinata
Northern Alligator Lizard Elgaria coerulea

Snakes

Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus
Common Racer Coluber constrictor
Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer
Santa Cruz Gartersnake Thamnophis atratus
Coast Gartersnake Thamnophis elegans

* introduced

Click on common names below for more information on species from enature.com.

Note: common names can vary.

photo by H.W. Greene, CalPhotos

The Arborial Salamander occurs in San Francisco including the Farallone Islands.

Arboreal Salamander

Aneides lugubris

	< photo by Dan Mulcahy
California Slender Salamander Batrachoseps attenuatus	The California Slender Salamander is a common salamander that is often found under logs and other items in people's backyards.

	photo by Dan Mulcahy	photo by Michelle Koo
Yellow-eyed Salamander Ensatina eschscholtzi xanthoptica

photo by Dan Mulcahy

Coast Range Newt

Taricha torosa torosa

photos by Dan Mulcahy
California Toad Bufo boreas halophilus		The California Toad is San Francisco's only toad.

photo by Dan Mulcahy

The Pacific Tree Frog is often heard croaking in moist wooded areas where it occurs.

Pacific Treefrog

Hyla regilla

	photos by Dan Mulcahy
Red-legged Frog Rana aurora draytonii		The Red-legged Frog is federally protected throughout its range. It has been severely impacted by the introduction of the Bullfrog from the East Coast.

photo by Dan Mulcahy

Rana catesbeiana

	photos by Dan Mulcahy
Western Pond Turtle Emys marmorata

photo by Pierre Fidenci

photo by Dan Mulcahy

Red-eared Slider

Trachemys scripta

The Red-eared Slider looks a lot like the Western Pond Turtle, but the slider is not native to San Francisco and is outcompeting the Western Pond Turtle in many areas including ponds in Golden Gate Park.

photo by Wayne Van Devender, CalPhotos

Soft-shell Turtles

Apalone sp.

		photos by Dan Mulcahy
Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis

	photos by Dan Mulcahy
Western Skink Eumeces skiltonianus

photos by Dan Mulcahy

Southern Alligator Lizard Elgaria multicarinata

		photos by Dan Mulcahy
Northern Alligator Lizard Elgaria coerulea

	photo by Dan Mulcahy
Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus

	photo by Dan Mulcahy
Common Racer Coluber constrictor

	photos by Dan Mulcahy

Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer

	photos by Dan Mulcahy

Santa Cruz Gartersnake Thamnophis atratus

photos by Dan Mulcahy
Coast Gartersnake Thamnophis elegans

Checklist, photos & maps provided to the SFPS by Dan Mulcahy.

No duplication of photos without consent of photographer(s).

Maps generated using www.herpnet.org .

Note: image at the top is of a San Francisco Garter Snake. Despite its name, this snake does not occur naturally in San Francisco County. They can be seen as captives at the San Francisco Zoo. This snake is a subspecies of Thamnophus sirtalis. The San Francisco Garter Snake is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. This snake has had its habitat greatly reduced by urban expansion in San Mateo County where it still has a remnant populaton.