This is a list of reptiles of Massachusetts. It includes all reptiles currently found in the US state of Massachusetts in alphabetical order of scientific name. It does not include species found only in captivity.

Snakes

Name Scientific name Order Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Northern copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasenSnakeViperidaeRare, endangered in the state; found in Norfolk, Berkshire, and Hampden Counties
Black racer
Coluber constrictorSnakeColubridaeLocally common although declining; statewide except Nantucket
Timber rattlesnake
Crotalus horridusSnakeViperidaeVery rare, endangered in the state; found in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk counties
Eastern worm snake
Carphophis ameonus amoenusSnakeColubridaeRare and threatened in the Commonwealth; found only in the Southern Connecticut River Valley in Hampden and Hampshire Counties
Ring-necked snake
Diadophis punctatusSnakeColubridaeCommon and widespread in the Commonwealth; statewide
Eastern hog-nosed snake
Heterodon platirhinosSnakeColubridaeUncommon; spotty distribution, but found in all counties except Berkshire, Nantucket, and Dukes County
Eastern milk snake
Lampropeltis triangulumSnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide
Northern water snake
Nerodia sipedonSnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide except Dukes County
Smooth green snake
Opheodrys vernalisSnakeColubridaeCommon but declining due to habitat loss; statewide
Black rat snake
Pantherophis obsoletusSnakeColubridaeVery rare, endangered in the Commonwealth; found only in Southern Worcester County, the Connecticut River Valley and Essex County
DeKay's brown snake
Storeria dekayi
SnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide except Martha's Vineyard island and Nantucket
Brahminy blind snake
Ramphotyphlops braminusSnakeTyphlopidaeIntroduced; reported to occur only in and around Boston; status unclear
Northern redbelly snake
Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculataSnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide except Nantucket
Ribbon snake
Thamnophis sauritusSnakeColubridaeCommon but declining; statewide
Common garter snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
SnakeColubridaeCommon; statewide

Turtles

Name Scientific name Order Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Loggerhead sea turtle
Caretta carettaTurtleCheloniidaeVery rare, located in coastal waters of the southeast; one recorded in Essex County in 2008; endangered federally and in the Commonwealth
Green sea turtle
Chelonia mydasTurtleCheloniidaeVery rare, reported from Dukes, Nantucket, and Cape Cod; listed as threatened in the Commonwealth and endangered federally
Common snapping turtle
Chelydra serpentinaTurtleChelydridaeCommon; statewide
Painted turtle
Chrysemys pictaTurtleEmydidaeCommon; statewide
Spotted turtle
Clemmys guttataTurtleEmydidaeLocally common to uncommon; statewide except Northern Berkshire County and Suffolk County
Leatherback sea turtle
Dermochelys coriaceaTurtleDermochelyidaeVery rare, coastal southeastern waters; endangered
Blanding's turtle
Emydoidea blandingiiTurtleEmydidaeRare, scattered populations in east; threatened in the Commonwealth
Hawksbill sea turtle
Eretmochelys imbricataTurtleCheloniidaeRare vagrant, recorded in 1909, 1968, and 1989; critically endangered
Wood turtle
Glyptemys insculptaTurtleEmydidaeUncommon, found statewide anywhere north and west of Bristol County and Plymouth County; listed as special concern
Bog turtle
Glyptemys muhlenbergiiTurtleEmydidaeVery rare, found only in Berkshire County; critically endangered in the commonwealth and federally
Kemp's ridley sea turtle
Lepidochelys kempiiTurtleCheloniidaeRecorded from Cape Cod, Dukes County, and Nantucket; listed as endangered in the Commonwealth, critically endangered globally
Diamondback terrapin
Malaclemys terrapinTurtleEmydidaeUncommon, found in Cape Cod, Plymouth County, and Bristol County; listed as threatened federally and in the Commonwealth
Northern red-bellied cooter
Pseudemys rubriventrisTurtleEmydidaeRare, found only in Plymouth County; listed as endangered
Eastern musk turtle
Sternotherus odoratusTurtleKinosternidaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket Counties
Eastern box turtle
Terrapene carolina carolinaTurtleEmydidaeUncommon, statewide except possibly Nantucket; listed as special concern
Red-eared slider
Trachemys scripta elegansTurtleEmydidaeIntroduced; may occur statewide, most likely common

Lizards

Name Scientific name Order Family Range and status IUCN Red List
Common five-lined skink
Plestidon fasciatusLizardScincidaeExtirpated; formerly Western and Southern Massachusetts (Berkshire and Bristol Counties), but now absent from the Commonwealth due to habitat loss
Italian wall lizard Podarcis siculus Lizard Lacertidae Introduced; recorded only in Suffolk County, unconfirmed reports in Middlesex County.

References

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