Ecoregion
Great Basin Reptiles and Amphibians by Month
The Great Basin is big sagebrush desert broken up by mountain ranges. Lizards rule here. Common Side-blotched Lizards, Desert Horned Lizards and Long-nosed Leopard Lizards are the classic finds. August is the busiest month. Gopher Snakes are common, and the Western Rattlesnake and Panamint Rattlesnake live here.
28 species2 venomous
Peak and shoulder ratings are rough guidance, not a schedule. Weather, elevation and the year can shift any species by weeks.
Rare and protected species are left off on purpose. Look, don't take, and never handle a venomous snake.
Species out in Great Basin, by group and month
| Group | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snakes | 2 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 4 | ||
| Lizards | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Turtles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Frogs and Toads | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |||
| Salamanders | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).
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26 species at peak or shoulder in September
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shoulder
shoulderAbout Great Basin
When are reptiles and amphibians most active in the Great Basin?
August is the busiest month in the Great Basin, with 25 species at peak activity. At least half of the area's species are active from March through October.
What reptiles and amphibians live in the Great Basin?
28 species have enough iNaturalist records to show here: 12 lizards, 10 snakes, 4 frogs and toads, 1 turtle, and 1 salamander. The most-reported are the Common Side-blotched Lizard, Western Fence Lizard, and Gopher Snake.
Are there venomous snakes in the Great Basin?
Yes. The Western Rattlesnake and Panamint Rattlesnake live here. Don't handle them.
Which reptiles and amphibians in the Great Basin are introduced?
The American Bullfrog is not native here.
Where does this data come from?
Activity calendars are built from iNaturalist research-grade observations (downloaded through GBIF, September 2026), corrected for how many people are out observing each month. Rare and protected species are left off on purpose.