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Home , Central Colorado, Great Plains skink, Lizard, Spiny lizard, Striped whipsnake, Texas horned lizard

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE Quick Key to and of

cpw.state.co.us Colorado is home to more than 70 and . This Quick Key was developed to help you identify these diverse . No matter where you are in the state, in the city, near a pond, even enjoying the view from over 12,000 feet, you likely are sharing that space with an amphibian or reptile.

The current distribution, abundance, and population trends of many , , toad, turtle, , and species in Colorado are poorly known. Some species appear to be declining, but there isn’t enough information to determine whether the decline is cause for alarm or simply a natural fluctuation. Beginning with the first pair of To learn more about these interesting animals, statements, choose the statement check out the Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) that best matches your website, which has additional photographs, species specimen. Follow the red descriptions, sound files of species calls, and line to the next pair ecological information. of statements. Continue to choose How do I use this key? the description that This key contains paired statements describing most closely matches the until you reach a adult reptiles and amphibians. Drawings highlight species name and photo. You can confirm your important identifying characteristics to look for on identification using the CPW website. If you find an the animal. Composite drawings combine the animal that doesn’t fit any description found in this features of several animals. key, it may be introduced to the state, an exotic, non-native species or even a juvenile or color variant of a native species. If possible, take a picture of the animal to submit to CPW for identification.

Photos in the key that are depicted with orange borders and species names have not been seen in Colorado for decades. If you find one of these animals, report your observation immediately and document the location and identification of the animal with photographs.

1 ILLUSTRATIONS © MARJORIE LEGGITT Eye Top of Top Snake Head Snake

Numerous Small Scales Numerous , page 3) ,

Western slope only Western Western Rattlesnake Western

Color reddish, maximum Color reddish, total length about 2 feet, Eye

Large Large Scales (Midget Faded Rattlesnake)* Quick Key to Turtles Quick Key

of Colorado Body covered by a shell by covered Body , page 6) , (See

Limbs present Numerous small

Quick Key to Quick Key

scales on top of head of Colorado (See

Skin scaly, toes (if present) clawed toes (if present) Skin scaly, Prairie Rattlesnake Prairie

total length about 4 feet Color variable, maximum Color variable, Rattle present at end of Rattle present Venomous of Colorado Snakes Venomous

Body not covered by a shell by not covered Body

Limbs absent

or , page 10) ,

The same species than more may have one common name. Alternate common provided names are for in parentheses some species. *

length about 2 feet

Head covered by large by Head covered maximum total scales,

No rattle present No rattle

- or -

Quick Key to Non-venomous Quick Key Quick Key to

Snakes of Colorado Snakes (See of Colorado of Colorado , page 4) ,

Quick Key to and to Frogs Quick Key

Toads of Colorado Toads Rattle (See Tail absent on adults, hind limbs absent on adults, Tail and protruding; no usually large much longer than forelimbs; eyes longer than forelimbs; much

vertical grooves along sides of body

toes, if present, are not clawed are if present, toes, AMPHIBIANS and REPTILES AMPHIBIANS and REPTILES (Larva) Barred Tiger Salamander Tiger Barred

Skin often smooth and slick, sometimes rough or warty— Skin often smooth and slick, (Adult)

body; color patternbody; spotted, Salamander Tiger Barred blotched, mottled or unicolor blotched, vertical grooves along sides of

larger than forelimbs; eyes small; eyes than forelimbs; larger 2 hind limbs not greatly present; Tail

Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Amphibians and Reptiles of Colorado. Keys to Wilcox Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve Key illustrations by Helen Zane Jensen Rear

margin smooth Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Mud Turtle Mud Turtle Turtle Turtle Painted Painted Painted Painted Turtle Turtle Snapping Snapping Ornate Ornate

down s Box Turtle Box Turtle Composite Turtle

radiating middle of back margin rear yellow line yellow Conspicuous Yellow line Yellow Saw-toothed Saw-toothed Spiny Softshell Turtle Elongated snout

(bumps) Rear hinge

Carapace flat and leathery, with row of raised tubercles tubercles of raised with row flat and leathery, Carapace

Raised tubercles Raised tubercles Double-hinged Plastron

Front hinge Snapping Turtle

or

plastron small and lacking hinge plastron small and lacking

streaks on head streaks margin, with saw-toothed rear Carapace Carapace mostly Carapace

brownish: no yellow brownish: Quick Key to

- or -

Upper shell green or brown, Upper shell green or brown,

with few or no yellow markings with few or no yellow Yellow Mud Turtle Yellow Painted Turtle Painted

margin, plastron double-hinged margin,

Carapace lacking saw-toothed rear lacking Carapace

Narrow yellow streaks on head, on head, streaks yellow Narrow

behind head, rear carapace smooth, smooth, carapace rear behind head, shell) bright red and plastron (lower

no indentation in carapace (upper shell) no indentation in carapace TURTLES of Colorado TURTLES TURTLES of Colorado TURTLES

Carapace mostly green, head mostly green, Carapace streaks or orange with yellow

five claws on forefeet five claws on forefeet elongated snout claws on forefeet, three (bumps) on leading edge, Pond Slider Pond

Carapace (upper shell) hard, covered by rigid, horny plates, rigid, by covered (upper shell) hard, Carapace Ornate Box Turtle

to yellow streaks on head, indention in on head, streaks to yellow

upper shell behind head, large dark spots large upper shell behind head, jagged, no notch in upper jaw NON-NATIVE in upper jaw NON-NATIVE no notch jagged, on plastron (lower shell), rear of upper shell rear shell), on plastron (lower Large red blotch behind each eye in addition eye behind each blotch red Large a dark background, plastron a dark background,

(lower shell) with distinct hinge, shell) with distinct hinge, (lower conspicuous yellow lines against conspicuous yellow High domed upper shell with many primarily found on land (terrestrial) 3

Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Amphibians and Reptiles of Colorado. Keys to Wilcox Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve Key illustrations by Helen Zane Jensen Quick Key to 4 FROGSFROGS andand TOADSTOADS ofof ColoradoColorado or Skin warty, large lumpy parotoid glands behind eyes ------or ------Skin relatively smooth, no parotoid glands

Head small with fold of skin behind eyes No light stripe down middle of back Western Narrow-mouthed Toad No fold of skin behind eyes

Light stripe down middle of back

Great Plains Toad Vertical pupils; rear feet each No large symmetrical dark blotches on back with single, hard dark “spade” Large symmetrical dark No cranial crests, usually blotches on back found above 8,000' Pupils not vertical Boreal Toad Boss (large lump) between eyes No boss (lump) Cranial crests, usually between eyes found below 7,000' Boss hard, mostly Woodhouse’s Toad eastern Colorado Boss pliable, Plains Spadefoot western Colorado Spadefoot Parotoid glands large and triangular, body green with scattered dark spots

Parotoid glands nearly circular, body tan or gray with red warts Red-spotted Toad Green Toad

Body greenish-yellow with dark blotches; spade on rear foot elongated; Body gray or brown with dark spots; body length may exceed 2.5 inches spade on rear foot about as broad as Couch’s Spadefoot it is long; body length up to 2.5 inches Mexican Spadefoot

No folds down the sides of the back (dorsolateral folds) Conspicuous dorsolateral folds (folds along the sides of the back)

Wood Frog Dark spots on body, Dark mask through eye from snout to angle of jaw, usually no mid-dorsal stripe Toepads not enlarged Treefrog light mid-dorsal stripe, found in north-central Colorado Toepads distinctly enlarged

Dorsolateral folds broken and inset near groin, body tan or brown Fold of skin around top Plains Leopard Frog Dorsolateral folds continuous from of eardrum; body size eye to groin, body green or brown Northern Leopard Frog may exceed 7 inches Maximum body size less than 1.5 inches

Stripe through eye from snout Triangular spot between eyes, to groin, usually three stripes extensive webbing on hind feet on back (may be spotted), Blanchard’s Frog* little webbing on hind feet Dorsolateral folds Boreal Chorus Frog are folds of skin on Athat cranial borders crest theis middle a ridge the sides of the back. down the middle of the back. and top side of the eye. A mid-dorsal stripe is a stripe

Warts are bumps on the skin.

A spade is a horny projection on the bottom of a spadefoot toad’s back foot. The spadefoot uses the spade to dig itself deep into the ground. Vertical pupil

Tuberculesthe underside(tubercles) of the foot; are toads large oftenbumps have on two on each rear foot. A boss is a lump *Photos depicted with between the eyes. orange borders and species names have not been seen in Colorado for decades. Horizontal pupil Parotoidbehind the glands eyes ofare toads found and give off a toxic substance.

Enlarged toepad

5 Eardrum

Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Keys to Amphibians and Reptiles of Colorado. Composite Frog/Toad Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve Wilcox Couch’s spadefoot toad photo by Charles Loeffler Key illustrations by Helen Zane Jensen Quick Key to 6 LIZARDSLIZARDS ofof ColoradoColorado or Horn-like spines on back of head

Short spines on back of head, no dark bars radiating from eyes No horn-like spines on back of head

Texas

No fringe scales Single row of fringe Long spines on back of head, two on sides of body scales on sides of body, rows of fringe scales on sides of Round-tailed Horned Lizard Hernandez’s Short-horned Lizard body, dark bars radiating from eyes

Scales variable, but not very shiny Shortback spines of headon

Longback spinesof headon

Composite Hernandez’s Horned Lizard Horned Lizard Short-horned Lizard

Hernandez’s Scales on back Scales on back smooth and shiny with Rear margin of Short-horned rounded and Round-tailed rounded rear edges Lizard each on granular Single row of Horned back pointed fringe scales Lizard Dark lines radiating from eyes

Two rows of fringe scales Continued from this point on page 8

Great Plains Black wedge-shapedDesert Spiny mark Lizard on side Longitudinal stripes down length Individual scales clearly black and of neck, up to 13 inches total length of very slender body, total length cream, total length to 13.75 inches No black wedge-shaped to about 7.75 inches mark on neck

Usually has light stripe along each side of back contrasting strongly with brown body and dark stripes; occurs south and Body tan with several dark west of Arkansas River stripes; occurs north and Variable Skink east of Arkansas River Keeled scales on rear of thigh, dorsal color variable Many-lined Skink

Granular scales on rear of thigh, black bar usually present on shoulder Common

Western slope and Eastern Fence Lizard Prairie Lizard

Skink Body Western Colorado

Keeled North-central to scales southeastern Colorado

South-central Colorado Granular scales on rear 7 of thigh Eastern Colorado

Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Keys to Amphibians and Reptiles of Colorado. Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve Wilcox Roundtail Horned Lizard photo by Suzanne L. Collins, The Center for North American ; key illustrations by Helen Zane Jensen Found on eastern slope Six-lined Racerunner Tiger Whiptail Tiger

enlarged; occurs on Western Slope Western occurs on enlarged;

Scales in front of gular fold not abruptly No external ear openings Common Lesser Earless Lizard Whiptail Whiptail

surface of one or both thighs

no spots or checkered pattern no spots or checkered Scales Whiptail Checkered Colorado Stripes running length of body, abruptly (stripe may be incomplete); less enlarged on posterior pale streak irregular

Single stripe down center of back Single stripe down Plateau Striped checkered appearance; unbroken, appearance; checkered Plateau Striped

on belly

Gular fold

Rectangular scales

Found on western slope Plateau Striped Whiptail

opening

External ear Tiger Whiptail Tiger Tiger Whiptail Tiger

No ear opening between head and No distinct neck

body, large and rectangular belly scales and rectangular large body,

down center of back; more center of back; down thigh spotted or reticulated Composite Whiptail One or two complete stripes One or two

checkered appearance; back of back appearance; checkered Whiptail Common Checkered or

Checkered pattern Checkered

Eastern Slope

Scales in front of gular fold abruptly enlarged; occurs on enlarged;

No distinct neck Quick Key to Lizard Lizard Common Common Side-blotched Side-blotched

Side blotch down Eastern Collared Lizard Eastern Collared

Dark collar-like mark on neck Dark collar-like scales middle of back middle of back

Row of enlarged Long-nosed Leopard Lizard Long-nosed Leopard

Conspicuous brown spots on back Conspicuous brown Ornate Tree Lizard Ornate Tree

LIZARDS of Colorado middle of back down LIZARDS of Colorado Row of enlarged scales of enlarged Row Tree Tree Lizard Lizard Ornate

Distinct neck Ornate

External ear openings visible (See previous page for Horned Lizards, , and Spiny Lizards) Skinks, page for Horned(See previous Lizards,

no large and rectangular belly scales and rectangular no large Distinct neck between head and body, between head and body, Distinct neck .

mark on the neck No dark collar-like

spots on back Composite Lizard

No conspicuous brown on chest behind foreleg on chest not enlarged; black spot black not enlarged;

Scales down middle of back middle of back Scales down 8 Common Side-blotched Lizard 9 Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve Wilcox Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve Key illustrations by Helen Zane Jensen Continued at this point page 6 from Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Amphibians and Reptiles of Colorado Keys to on 3rd

Keeled scales

Continued from Continued from

above belly scales above and 4th scale rows Pale stripes Pale

The same species than more may have one common name. Alternate common provided names are for in parentheses some species. Photos depicted with and borders orange species names have not been seen in for decades. Colorado Plains Plains * **

this point on page 12 Gartersnake Gartersnake

black and cream black Body without red, Body

Great Plains Ratsnake Great pattern (or yellow)

Scales on back veryScales on back weakly keeled; body tan with brown tan with brown body keeled;

dark stripes on underside of tail

blotches; rectangular marks on belly; rectangular blotches;

very weakly keeled

Scales on body smooth or Scales on body

but without longitudinal stripes Body plain, banded, or blotched, or blotched, banded, plain, Body

on 2nd and Gartersnake Gartersnake Black-necked Black-necked

belly scales

upturned

3rd scale rows above above scale rows 3rd

Nose distinctly Pale stripes Pale Long-nosed Snake

Lined Snake smooth; body Body with red, Body pattern variable Pattern and black of red black and cream black Scales completely pattern (or yellow) bands with cream speckling speckling bands with cream

Belly with conspicuous

double row of half-moon markings double row Western Ribbonsnake**Western Pale stripes on 3rd and 4th Pale stripes on 3rd

scale rows above belly scales above scale rows Hog-nosed Snake

at edge

Double row of Double row Lined Lined Snake Snake

half-moon markings

or Snake

Single

of scales on upper lip Composite

anal scale Milksnake

Distinct black bars

on side

No red color No red Eastern Hog-nosed Snake Large, somewhat rectangular Large, blotches on back, belly dusky, on back, blotches half-moon markings

underside of tail lighter than belly bands with and black red Cream,

Belly variable, but without Belly variable, bands black by bands bordered red

Pale stripes on 2nd and 3rd Pale stripes on 2nd and 3rd scale rows above belly scales above scale rows Western Terrestrial Gartersnake Terrestrial Western

Body with distinctly keeled scales with distinctly keeled Body Quick Key to

- or -

Nose distinctly upturned of Colorado of Colorado

(See page 2 for Key to Venomous Snakes) Venomous (See page 2 for Key to Striped Whipsnake black and white stripes black

on back; belly and on back; Scales smooth; longitudinal Oval-shaped blotches blotches Oval-shaped underside of tail black

Red color on side Plains Hog-nosed Snake Common Gartersnake Common Gartersnake (Red-sided Gartersnake)*

body, divided anal scale body, Northern Watersnake

rows above belly scales above rows or tan bands on brown Brown

scales on upper lips

Pair of glossy black blotches Pair of glossy black scale on 2nd and 3rd of body Gartersnake Black-necked

behind head; pale stripe on side NON-VENOMOUS SNAKES NON-VENOMOUS SNAKES No distinct black bars at edge of No distinct black

Nose not distinctly upturned .

Longitudinal stripes running the length of body

Scales keeled ()* Gophersnake Gophersnake

of scales on upper lips

Distinct black bars at edge Distinct black single anal scale blotches, Pale stripe on side of Plains Gartersnake with brown yellowish Back

rows above belly scales above rows body on 3rd and 4th scale on 3rd body Anal Scale 10 Divided 11 Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve Wilcox Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve The Center Collins, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake photo by Suzanne L. American Herpetology; key illustrations by Helen Zane Jensen for North Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Amphibians and Reptiles of Colorado Keys to Continued at this point from page 11 12 Quick Key to NON-VENOMOUSNON-VENOMOUS SNAKESSNAKES ofof ColoradoColorado or Tan body, black head, adults No pattern of brown blotches on paler background ------or ------Pattern of brown blotches on paler background less than 15 inches

Glossy Snake Vertical pupils, divided anal scale, Body and color varies, adults larger than 15 inches length less than about 2 feet Single anal scale; length to 56 inches

Distribution in southeastern Colorado Chihuahuan Nightsnake

Eastern slope Distribution in western Colorado Great Plains Black-headed Snake Nightsnake

Western slope No black and white Smith’s Black-headed Snake bands and no black with white speckling Pattern of black and white bands or black with white speckling

Tail resembles braided whip; adults large (to 80 Pattern of alternating black Black with white speckling, inches), color variable and white bands, distribution Coachwhip distribution in Tail plain; not resembling braided whip in southwestern Colorado southeastern Colorado

Olive body with orange ring around neck Ring-necked Snake No olive body with orange Coachwhip ring around neck

Worm-like appearance, dorsal and ventral scales about the same size, vestigial eyes Texas Blind Snake (Texas Threadsnake)*

Body not -like in appearance

Body variable (orange, brown, or gray), often with dark saddles; maximum total length about 15 inches No dark saddles on Tail resembles Western Groundsnake dorsum, maximum length braided whip exceeds 15 inches

Greenish body with yellow or cream belly; nostril centered between * The same species two separate scales Nostril centered may have more than Body bright grass green; nostril North American Racer in a single scale one common name. centered in a single scale Alternate common Smooth Greensnake names are provided in parentheses for some species. 13

Smooth Greensnake

Key adapted from Lauren Livo’s Keys to Amphibians and Reptiles of Colorado. Photos by Lauren Livo and Steve Wilcox Key illustrations by Helen Zane Jensen • Do not move animals from one location to Tips for Recording Herpetofaunal Data another. Do not release or other individuals • Always bring something to write on and a pencil that have been in captivity for an extended period or waterproof pen. Good science does not rely of time or held with other animals. Some of the on memory! possible results of translocating animals or • It’s essential that you know where you releasing captives include: death of animals are. Take the time to find your location released in unsuitable habitat, disruption of on a map or record the GPS coordinates. populations that are genetically adapted to local • conditions, transmission of disease, harm to Visit a site at different times of the native wildlife, and confusion of the natural and under different weather conditions, distribution of the released species. and try to visit a site in different . By making multiple visits, you increase your • Clean your nets, boots, and other gear with a chances of finding most of the species that occur 10% chlorine bleach solution between surveys in the area and you can also document year-to- to reduce the possibility of inadvertently year changes. transferring pathogens from one location to • Number of individuals detected for each another. species. The number of individuals of each • Be careful not to create a traffic hazard on roads. Essential Information for Every Observation species you saw or heard is important for If you find a snake, turtle, and other species on • Precise location. Your observations are much assessing changes in their relative abundance How to Observe Reptiles and Amphibians a road and can safely remove it, be sure to pull more valuable when you have good information over time. about the locations. GPS units and even • Learn to recognize venomous snakes and observe over to the side and park off the road if possible. • Photographs. Submitting a photograph that Smartphones can provide Latitude and Longitude them from a safe distance. Record your observation data, then release the documents the amphibian or reptile you or UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) • Be gentle on the animals and their habitat. animal well off the road on the side to which it observed allows others to have confidence in coordinates. Topographic maps and online Do not trample amphibian breeding sites. was headed. Do not stop or attempt to retrieve your identification, and it allows researchers sources can show additional information, such animals from heavily traveled roads if doing so to make maximal use of your information • Use caution when lifting or turning objects to as elevation and names of geographic features. would endanger you or other motorists. for scientific analyses. Of course, taking a find animals. If possible, wear protective gloves. A written description of the location enhances photograph won’t always be possible. In these If you remove animals from under rocks or logs, the information and can help cross-check the cases, you should write down the identifying place the objects back in their original positions reliability of geographic coordinates. You really characteristics you observed in your and then release any animals you captured next can’t record too much information on the specimen(s). to the object. The microhabitats under these location. objects are used by many kinds of organisms; it • may take years to develop suitable conditions for Date. Observation dates help researchers some of them. determine activity period as well as trends in the distribution and • Do not collect live specimens unless you are abundance of Colorado’s working on a specific research project and have herpetofauna. the necessary scientific collection permit from the Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Instead, take photographs of the animals you find. Specimens collected as road kills can be donated (with data noting location and date of collection) to the University of Colorado Museum in Boulder. 14 15 ILLUSTRATIONS © MARJORIE LEGGITT Good Places to Look for Amphibians and Reptiles • Edges and shallows of lakes and ponds • Marshes and other • Creeks and margins of rivers • Intermittent stream courses with permanent pools • Pools that form after heavy rains or floods • Rock outcrops • Sandy prairies • Plains and valleys with lots of burrows • Arroyos (dry gulches, washes) • Debris on the ground near abandoned ranch or farm buildings • Prairie dog towns (be alert for )

The purchase of Colorado fishing and hunting licenses or a State Parks pass supports wildlife conservation. Buy yours today: • Online—cpw.state.co.us • By phone—(800) 244-5613 • At CPW Offices and State Parks • At License Vendors statewide

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE 6060 Broadway, , CO 80216 (303) 297-1192 cpw.state.co.us

COVER PHOTO © LAUREN LIVO AND STEVE WILCOX CONTENT © CPW BY WENDY HANOPHY DESIGN BY STATE OF COLORADO IDS DESIGN

6/2013 – 20,000