Reptiles

Birds are listed separately.

• Class Reptilia
  • Order Chelonia – Turtles
    • Family Emydidae - Pond and Box Turtles
      • Trachemys scripta – Pond Slider (common non-native pest species)
    • Family Trionychidae – Softshell Turtles
      • Apalone spinifera – Spiny Softshell (present non-native species)
  • Order Squamata – Lizards and Snakes
    • Family Phrynosomatidae – Phrynosomatids
      • Sceloporus occidentalis – Western Fence Lizard (common)
      • Uta stansburiana – Common Side-blotched Lizard (uncommon)
    • Family Scincidae – Skinks
      • Plestiodon skiltonianus – Western Skink (uncommon)
    • Family Teiidae – Whiptails and Relatives
      • Aspidoscelis tigris – Western Whiptail (uncommon)
    • Family Anguidae – Alligator Lizards and Relatives
      • Elgaria multicarinata – Southern Alligator Lizard (common)
    • Family Leptotyphlopidae – Slender Blind Snakes
      • Rena humilis – Western Blind Snake (rare)
    • Family Boidae – Boas
      • Lichanura orcutti – Coastal Rosy Boa (extremely rare)
    • Family Colubridae – Colubrids
      • Coluber constrictor – Racer (possible as records near campus)
      • Masticophis flagellum – Coachwhip (possible as records near campus)
      • Masticophis lateralis – Striped Racer (common)
      • Pituophis catenifer – Gopher Snake (common)
      • Lampropeltis getula – Common Kingsnake (uncommon)
    • Family Dipsadidae – Rear Fanged Snakes
      • Diadophis punctatus – Ring-necked Snake (uncommon)
    • Family Viperidae – Vipers
      • Crotalus helleri –Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (common)

Degrees of occurrence (i.e., common / uncommon / rare / extremely rare) of listed species are based on observations that began several decades ago by Dr. Glenn Stewart and colleagues, and that continue by Dr. A. Kristopher Lappin and his students.  As has always been the case, the occurrence and abundance of species in any given area is under a constant state of flux due to varying abiotic and biotic factors.  In general, native species continue to decline.  Certain species are uncommon or rare due to limited habitat availability and continuing habitat loss on campus, particularly in the Voorhis Ecological Reserve.