Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Arizona in April

67 reptiles and amphibians are active in Arizona in April, and 37 are at peak. Peak species include the Ornate Tree Lizard, Common Side-blotched Lizard, Desert Spiny Lizard, and Gopher Snake.

Counted from iNaturalist research-grade observations recorded inside Arizona. Seasons shift across the state, so for a closer match, pick your ecoregion.

Full 12-month Arizona calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Arizona, by group and month

Group
Snakes	1	6	15	29	32	34	35	35	34	31	11	2
Lizards	5	10	24	31	32	30	30	31	30	24	12	5
Turtles	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1
Frogs and Toads	1	3	5	5	7	12	12	12	12	10	5	1

Numbers = species active that month (at peak or just starting / winding down).

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At peak in April 37

Snakes

peak

SnakesBanded Sand SnakeSonora cincta

peak

SnakesBig Bend Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora deserticola

peak

SnakesCalifornia King SnakeLampropeltis californiae

peak

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

SnakesGround SnakeSonora semiannulata

peak

SnakesLong-nosed SnakeRhinocheilus lecontei

peak

SnakesMountain Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora grahamiae

peak

SnakesSidewinderCrotalus cerastes

venomous

peak

SnakesSouthwestern Blackhead SnakeTantilla hobartsmithi

peak

SnakesSouthwestern Speckled RattlesnakeCrotalus pyrrhus

venomous

peak

SnakesStriped WhipsnakeMasticophis taeniatus

peak

SnakesWestern Glossy SnakeArizona occidentalis

peak

SnakesWestern Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora hexalepis

peak

SnakesWestern RattlesnakeCrotalus oreganus

venomous

Lizards

peak

LizardsCommon ChuckwallaSauromalus ater

peak

LizardsCommon Side-blotched LizardUta stansburiana

peak

LizardsDesert Collared LizardCrotaphytus bicinctores

peak

LizardsDesert Horned LizardPhrynosoma platyrhinos

peak

LizardsDesert IguanaDipsosaurus dorsalis

peak

LizardsDesert Spiny LizardSceloporus magister

peak

LizardsElegant Earless LizardHolbrookia elegans

peak

LizardsGreater Earless LizardCophosaurus texanus

peak

LizardsLong-nosed Leopard LizardGambelia wislizenii

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

peak

LizardsOrnate Tree LizardUrosaurus ornatus

peak

LizardsRegal Horned LizardPhrynosoma solare

peak

LizardsSonoran Collared LizardCrotaphytus nebrius

peak

LizardsSonoran Horned LizardPhrynosoma goodei

peak

LizardsSouthwestern Fence LizardSceloporus cowlesi

peak

LizardsWestern Banded GeckoColeonyx variegatus

peak

LizardsWestern WhiptailAspidoscelis tigris

peak

LizardsZebra-tailed LizardCallisaurus draconoides

Turtles

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

introduced

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

introduced

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsCanyon Tree FrogDryophytes arenicolor

Shoulder season in April 30

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesArizona Black RattlesnakeCrotalus cerberus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesBlack-necked Garter SnakeThamnophis cyrtopsis

shoulder

SnakesCheckered Garter SnakeThamnophis marcianus

shoulder

SnakesChihuahuan Mountain KingsnakeLampropeltis knoblochi

shoulder

SnakesDesert KingsnakeLampropeltis splendida

shoulder

SnakesDesert NightsnakeHypsiglena chlorophaea

shoulder

SnakesGreen Rat SnakeSenticolis triaspis

shoulder

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

shoulder

SnakesSonoran CoralsnakeMicruroides euryxanthus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesSonoran WhipsnakeMasticophis bilineatus

shoulder

SnakesWestern Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus molossus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesWestern Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox

venomous

shoulder

SnakesWestern Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans

shoulder

SnakesWestern ThreadsnakeRena humilis

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsClark's Spiny LizardSceloporus clarkii

shoulder

LizardsCommon Sagebrush LizardSceloporus graciosus

shoulder

LizardsDesert Grassland WhiptailAspidoscelis uniparens

shoulder

LizardsEastern Collared LizardCrotaphytus collaris

shoulder

LizardsGreater Short-horned LizardPhrynosoma hernandesi

shoulder

LizardsKeeled Rock GeckoCyrtopodion scabrum

introduced

shoulder

LizardsMadrean Alligator LizardElgaria kingii

shoulder

LizardsPlateau Fence LizardSceloporus tristichus

shoulder

LizardsPlateau Striped WhiptailAspidoscelis velox

shoulder

LizardsSonoran Spotted WhiptailAspidoscelis sonorae

shoulder

LizardsStriped Plateau LizardSceloporus virgatus

shoulder

LizardsWestern Earless LizardHolbrookia maculata

shoulder

LizardsYarrow's Spiny LizardSceloporus jarrovii

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsLowland Leopard FrogLithobates yavapaiensis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsRed-spotted ToadAnaxyrus punctatus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWoodhouse's ToadAnaxyrus woodhousii

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.

Arizona in April

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Arizona in April?

67 reptiles and amphibians are active in Arizona in April, and 37 are at peak. Peak species include the Ornate Tree Lizard, Common Side-blotched Lizard, Desert Spiny Lizard, and Gopher Snake.

Are venomous snakes active in Arizona in April?

Yes. The Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Western Black-tailed Rattlesnake, Sidewinder, Arizona Black Rattlesnake, Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake, Sonoran Coralsnake, and Western Rattlesnake can be active in April. Watch where you step and don't handle them.