Only about half of the states within the United States have named an official state reptile. However, two of those states have two every, and one has three! Read on for the whole listing of state reptile symbols, together with pictures and info about every. Can you guess which reptile is the most well-liked choose?
Alabama: Alabama Red-Bellied Turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis)
The Alabama red-bellied turtle is endemic to the state’s Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.
©Alabama_red-bellied_turtle_US_FWS.jpg: Josh Roswell/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. TCO / public area – License
Alabama named the Alabama red-bellied turtle its official state reptile in 1990. The IUCN at present lists it as an endangered species.
Arizona: Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi)
The Arizona ridge-nosed
rattlesnake
is a venomous pit viper species native to the sky islands of the Southwest U.S. and Mexico.
©Matt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com
Arizona named the Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake its official state reptile in 1986.
Colorado: Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta belli)
The western painted turtle is the biggest painted turtle subspecies.
©Danita Delimont/Shutterstock.com
Colorado named the western painted turtle its official state reptile in 2008.
Florida: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
South Florida is the one place the place each native alligators and crocodiles co-exist within the wild.
©Marc Pletcher/Shutterstock.com
Florida named the American alligator its official state reptile in 1987.
Florida: Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
The loggerhead is the biggest dwelling hard-shelled turtle and the second-largest dwelling turtle general after its cousin the leatherback.
©Strobilomyces, CC BY-SA 3.0 – License
Florida additionally named the loggerhead sea turtle its official state saltwater reptile in 2008.
Florida: Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
The gopher
tortoise
is native to the Southeastern United States.
©Kristian Bell/Shutterstock.com
Florida additionally named the gopher tortoise its official state tortoise in 2008. The IUCN at present lists it as a vulnerable species.
Georgia: Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
The gopher tortoise is a keystone species whose burrows present shelter for tons of of different species in Southeastern U.S. longleaf ecosystems.
©Kristian Bell/Shutterstock.com
Georgia named the gopher tortoise its official state reptile in 1989.
Illinois: Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
The painted turtle is known as for the colourful purple, orange, and yellow colours on its pores and skin and shell.
©KARI Okay/Shutterstock.com
Illinois named the painted turtle its official state reptile in 2005.
Kansas: Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata)
The ornate
field turtle
is often known as the western field turtle.
©Matt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com
Kansas named the ornate field turtle its official state reptile in 1986.
Louisiana: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Mother American alligators shield their young for as much as their first yr of life.
©Marc Pletcher/Shutterstock.com
Louisiana named the American alligator its official state reptile in 1983.
Maryland: Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)
Diamondback terrapins inhabit brackish coastal tidal marshes.
©Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com
Maryland named the diamondback terrapin its official state reptile in 1994.
Massachusetts: Garter Snake (Thamnophis spp.)
Garter snakes are discovered throughout North and Central America.
©iStock.com/rkhalil
Massachusetts named the garter snake its official state reptile in 2006. The state has two native species on this genus: the widespread garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and the ribbon snake
(Thamnophis sauritus).
Michigan: Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
The painted turtle is a member of the pond turtle household and has webbed ft for swimming.
©KARI Okay/Shutterstock.com
Michigan named the painted turtle its official state reptile in 1995.
Minnesota: Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
Blanding’s turtle is known as after American naturalist Dr. William Blanding (1773 – 1857).
©Ryan M. Bolton/Shutterstock.com
Minnesota proposed the Blanding’s turtle as its official state reptile in each 1998 and 1999; nonetheless, it has but to be made official. The IUCN at present lists it as an endangered species.
Mississippi: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
American alligators vary throughout the Southeastern U.S. into the northeastern nook of Mexico.
©Marc Pletcher/Shutterstock.com
Mississippi named the American alligator its official state reptile in 2005.
Missouri: Three-Toed Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis)
The three-toed field turtle is native to the South Central United States.
©IrinaK/Shutterstock.com
Missouri named the three-toed field turtle its official state reptile in 2007.
Nevada: Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
Desert tortoises spend about 95% of their lives of their burrows.
©John Andrus/Shutterstock.com
Nevada named the desert tortoise its official state reptile in 1989. The IUCN at present lists it as a critically endangered species.
New Jersey: Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii)
The lavatory turtle is endemic to the Eastern U.S. and is North America’s smallest native turtle.
©Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com
New Jersey named the lavatory turtle its official state reptile in 2018. The IUCN at present lists it as a critically endangered species.
New Mexico: New Mexico Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus)
The New Mexico whiptail lizard has an uncommon reproductive technique, counting on interspecific hybridization and parthenogenesis as all breeding adults of the species are feminine.
©Elliotte Rusty Harold/Shutterstock.com
New Mexico named the New Mexico whiptail lizard its official state reptile in 2003.
New York: Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
The widespread snapping turtle is probably the most widespread snapping turtle species.
©Joseph M. Arseneau/Shutterstock.com
New York named the widespread snapping turtle its official state reptile in 2006.
North Carolina: Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
As its widespread title suggests, the jap field turtle is a subspecies of the widespread field turtle discovered within the jap half of the United States.
©Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com
North Carolina named the jap field turtle its official state reptile in 1979.
Ohio: Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor)
The northern black racer is a subspecies of the North American racer
.
©Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com
Ohio named the northern black racer its official state reptile in 1995.
Oklahoma: Common Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris)
The collared lizard is known as for the black banding across the neck and shoulders.
©iStock.com/SteveByland
Oklahoma named the widespread collared lizard its official state reptile in 1969. It was the primary state to call an official state reptile.
South Carolina: Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
The loggerhead is probably the most broadly distributed sea turtle species, discovered within the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans in addition to the Mediterranean Sea.
©Strobilomyces, CC BY-SA 3.0 – License
South Carolina named the loggerhead sea turtle its official state reptile in 1988.
Tennessee: Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
Eastern field turtles have variable coloration on each their pores and skin and shells, with purple, orange, yellow, brown, and black patterns.
©Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com
Tennessee named the jap field turtle its official state reptile in 1995.
Texas: Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
The Texas horned lizard ranges throughout the South Central U.S. and northeastern Mexico, making it probably the most broadly distributed horned lizard species.
©Matt Jeppson/Shutterstock.com
Texas named the Texas horned lizard its official state reptile in 1993.
Texas: Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
The Kemp’s ridley is the world’s most endangered sea turtle species.
©JB Manning/Shutterstock.com
Texas additionally named the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle its official state sea turtle in 2013. The IUCN at present lists it as a critically endangered species.
Utah: Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)
The Gila monster is the one venomous lizard native to the United States.
©Vaclav Sebek/Shutterstock.com
Utah named the Gila monster its official state reptile in 2019.
Vermont: Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
The painted turtle is the most well-liked choose on this listing!
©KARI Okay/Shutterstock.com
Vermont named the painted turtle its official state reptile in 1994.
Virginia: Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
Eastern garter snakes are ovoviviparous, that means they offer beginning to dwell young.
©Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com
Virginia named the jap garter snake its official state snake in 2016.
West Virginia: Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
The timber rattlesnake is one in all solely two venomous snake species native to West Virginia, the opposite being the northern copperhead (
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
).
©Mark_Kostich/Shutterstock.com
West Virginia named the timber rattlesnake its official state reptile in 2008.
Wyoming: Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma spp.)
Horned lizards are often known as “horned toads” resulting from their superficial similarity to toads; nonetheless, toads are amphibians.
©Nathan A Shepard/Shutterstock.com
Wyoming named the horned lizard its official state reptile in 1993. While a selected species was not named within the authentic laws, the one frequently occurring species within the state is the larger short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi).
Summary of “The Complete List of Every Official US State Reptile (With Pictures!)”
| State | Reptile | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Red-Bellied Turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis) | 1990 | |
| Arizona | Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) | 1986 | |
| California | Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) | 1972 | |
| California | Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) | 2012 | state marine reptile |
| Colorado | Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta belli) | 2008 | |
| Florida | American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | 1987 | |
| Florida | Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | 2008 | state saltwater reptile |
| Florida | Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) | 2008 | state tortoise |
| Georgia | Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) | 1989 | |
| Illinois | Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) | 2005 | |
| Kansas | Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata) | 1986 | |
| Louisiana | American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | 1983 | |
| Maryland | Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) | 1994 | |
| Massachusetts | Garter Snake (Thamnophis spp.) | 2006 | widespread garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) & ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus) |
| Michigan | Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) | 1995 | |
| Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) | Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) | – | proposed in 1998 & 1999 |
| Mississippi | American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | 2005 | |
| Missouri | Three-Toed Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) | 2007 | |
| Nevada | Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) | 1989 | |
| New Jersey | Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) | 2018 | |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus) | 2003 | |
| New York | Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) | 2006 | |
| North Carolina | Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) | 1979 | |
| Ohio | Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) | 1995 | |
| Oklahoma | Common Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) | 1969 | |
| South Carolina | Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) | 1988 | |
| Tennessee | Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) | 1995 | |
| Texas | Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) | 1993 | |
| Texas | Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) | 2013 | state sea turtle |
| Utah | Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) | 2019 | |
| Vermont | Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) | 1994 | |
| Virginia | Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) | 2016 | |
| West Virginia | Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) | 2008 | |
| Wyoming | Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma spp.) | 1993 | larger short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) |
The picture featured on the prime of this submit is © Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com
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