Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Arkansas in May

61 reptiles and amphibians are active in Arkansas in May, and 55 are at peak. Peak species include the Three-toed Box Turtle, Prairie Lizard, American Toad, and Pond Slider.

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

Full 12-month Arkansas calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Arkansas, by group and month

Group
Snakes	2	16	26	26	26	24	19	20	20	20	15	5
Lizards	2	4	6	7	7	7	7	7	7	5	4	4
Turtles	2	4	8	10	10	11	11	11	9	6	3	2
Frogs and Toads	5	9	13	13	11	11	11	11	11	10	9	4
Salamanders	9	12	12	12	6	5	5	4	7	10	11	9

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

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At peak in May 55

Snakes

peak

SnakesBanded WatersnakeNerodia fasciata

peak

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesCommon WatersnakeNerodia sipedon

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesDiamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer

peak

SnakesEastern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrix

venomous

peak

SnakesEastern Hognose SnakeHeterodon platirhinos

peak

SnakesFlat-headed SnakeTantilla gracilis

peak

SnakesMudsnakeFarancia abacura

peak

SnakesNorth American RacerColuber constrictor

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

peak

SnakesPlain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster

peak

SnakesPrairie KingsnakeLampropeltis calligaster

peak

SnakesPygmy RattlesnakeSistrurus miliarius

venomous

peak

SnakesRed-bellied SnakeStoreria occipitomaculata

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRough EarthsnakeVirginia striatula

peak

SnakesRough GreensnakeOpheodrys aestivus

peak

SnakesSpeckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki

peak

SnakesTimber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern MilksnakeLampropeltis gentilis

peak

SnakesWestern RatsnakePantherophis obsoletus

peak

SnakesWestern Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus

peak

SnakesWestern Worm SnakeCarphophis vermis

Lizards

peak

LizardsBroad-headed SkinkPlestiodon laticeps

peak

LizardsCommon Five-lined SkinkPlestiodon fasciatus

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

peak

LizardsLittle Brown SkinkScincella lateralis

peak

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

peak

LizardsSix-lined RacerunnerAspidoscelis sexlineatus

Turtles

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

TurtlesEastern Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

peak

TurtlesEastern Musk TurtleSternotherus odoratus

peak

TurtlesFalse Map TurtleGraptemys pseudogeographica

peak

TurtlesNorthern Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

peak

TurtlesOuachita Map TurtleGraptemys ouachitensis

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

peak

TurtlesThree-toed Box TurtleTerrapene triunguis

Alligators

peak

AlligatorsAmerican AlligatorAlligator mississippiensis

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican ToadAnaxyrus americanus

peak

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

peak

Frogs and ToadsEastern Narrow-mouthed ToadGastrophryne carolinensis

peak

Frogs and ToadsFowler's ToadAnaxyrus fowleri

peak

Frogs and ToadsGray TreefrogDryophytes versicolor

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SalamandersDark-sided SalamanderEurycea melanopleura

peak

SalamandersOuachita Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus brimleyorum

peak

SalamandersWestern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon albagula

Shoulder season in May 6

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesSmooth EarthsnakeVirginia valeriae

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsBlanchard's Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

shoulder

SalamandersOklahoma SalamanderEurycea tynerensis

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.

Arkansas in May

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Arkansas in May?

61 reptiles and amphibians are active in Arkansas in May, and 55 are at peak. Peak species include the Three-toed Box Turtle, Prairie Lizard, American Toad, and Pond Slider.

Are venomous snakes active in Arkansas in May?

Yes. The Northern Cottonmouth, Eastern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake, and Pygmy Rattlesnake can be active in May. Watch where you step and don't handle them.