3 Endangered Reptiles of the US

Written by Nick
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Published on December 12, 2012
Gartner snake feature

The United States can be a hostile environment for reptiles. Of the 283 species making their homes here, the US Fish and Wildlife Service lists 36 — more than one in ten — at some level of threat for extinction. Listed below are just three of the endangered reptile species in the United States. All across the country, reptiles fight for survival against the destruction of their habitats, disturbance of their mating grounds, and collection of their young. In the case of the 36 endangered species on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s list, the fight may not last much longer.

Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizard

One of these endangered reptiles is the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Gambelia sila. Discovered in 1860, the blunt-nosed leopard lizard subsists mainly on insects, but is also known to eat other lizards, including its own offspring. This four-inch lizard is capable of leaping up to five times its body length in order to catch its prey. Currently, the lizard’s range is limited to the San Joaquin Valley in California, where it lives primarily in undeveloped areas and wildlife refuges.

Alabama Red-Bellied Cooter

On the other side of the country, the Alabama red-bellied cooter, Pseudemys alabamensis, struggles for survival. Though it is the official state reptile of Alabama, this large turtle can only be found in two counties in the southern portion of the state, near the Mobile Delta, and two counties in southern Mississippi. It makes its home in the waters of the Delta, where it lays its eggs in the sand and feeds primarily on vegetation. The Alabama red-bellied cooter faces extinction from a combination of human encroachment and fierce, heavy predation.

Common Garter Snake

Back in California, the common garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia is threatened by urban development and collection by reptile breeders, despite the fact that collection of endangered species by private citizens is illegal. This colorful snake feeds mostly on small frogs and uses the burrows of small mammals to hibernate during the winter. Though the females give live birth to an average of 16 offspring per year, it is estimated that there are less than 2,000 adult snakes remaining in the wild. This estimate may be low, due to the snake’s penchant for hiding in wet, muddy areas.

Featured Image from Aaron Fernando/Unsplash

Nick

Nick