FieldGuides Reptiles & Amphibians

About Reptile & Amphibian Types

The species in the Online Field Guide are divided into type categories based on shared characteristics or relationships. A silhouette illustration shows a representative species from each type. The list below tells which species are included in each type category. Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates that undergo a larval stage and metaphosis before becoming adults (e.g., pollywogs and tadpoles are frog or toad larvae). Amphibians need to keep their skin damp so it doesn't dry out and they usually mate and lay their eggs in water. Frogs, toads, and salamanders are amphibians. Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates with scaly skin that are mainly land-dwellers and lay eggs or give birth to their young on land. Unlike amphibians, young reptiles don't start out as larvae, they look like their parents at birth. Turtles, alligators, lizards, and snakes are all reptiles.
	Salamanders aquatic salamanders newts mole salamanders lungless salamanders

	Frogs and Toads treefrogs chorus frogs cricket frogs true frogs narrow-mouthed frogs toads

	Turtles marine turtles softshell turtles musk turtles mud turtles pond turtles box turtles terrapins snapping turtles tortoises

	Crocodilians alligators crocodiles

	Lizards geckos anoles collared lizards iguanas earless lizards horned lizards spiny lizards chuckwallas alligator lizards glass lizards night lizards whiptails racerunners skinks gila monster

	Snakes boas colubrid snakes racers king snakes whipsnakes water snakes green snakes garter snakes coral snakes pit vipers rattlesnakes
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