Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in New Mexico in April

48 reptiles and amphibians are active in New Mexico in April, and 23 are at peak. Peak species include the Southwestern Fence Lizard, Common Side-blotched Lizard, Gopher Snake, and Pond Slider.

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

Full 12-month New Mexico calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across New Mexico, by group and month

Group
Snakes			5	14	23	25	25	25	22	17	5
Lizards	1	4	13	24	25	25	26	26	24	18	7	1
Turtles	1	2	4	5	6	6	6	6	5	4	1	1
Frogs and Toads		1	1	4	12	13	13	13	10	6	1
Salamanders				1	1	2	2	2	2	1

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

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At peak in April 23

Snakes

peak

SnakesBig Bend Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora deserticola

peak

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

peak

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

SnakesMountain Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora grahamiae

peak

SnakesStriped WhipsnakeMasticophis taeniatus

Lizards

peak

LizardsClark's Spiny LizardSceloporus clarkii

peak

LizardsCommon Side-blotched LizardUta stansburiana

peak

LizardsEastern Collared LizardCrotaphytus collaris

peak

LizardsGreater Earless LizardCophosaurus texanus

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

peak

LizardsNew Mexico WhiptailAspidoscelis neomexicanus

peak

LizardsOrnate Tree LizardUrosaurus ornatus

peak

LizardsRoundtail Horned LizardPhrynosoma modestum

peak

LizardsSouthwestern Fence LizardSceloporus cowlesi

peak

LizardsWestern Earless LizardHolbrookia maculata

Turtles

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsBoreal Chorus FrogPseudacris maculata

peak

Frogs and ToadsCanyon Tree FrogDryophytes arenicolor

Shoulder season in April 25

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesDesert KingsnakeLampropeltis splendida

shoulder

SnakesEastern Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus ornatus

venomous

shoulder

SnakesGlossy SnakeArizona elegans

shoulder

SnakesLong-nosed SnakeRhinocheilus lecontei

shoulder

SnakesPrairie RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis

venomous

shoulder

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

shoulder

SnakesWestern Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox

venomous

shoulder

SnakesWestern Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsArizona Striped WhiptailAspidoscelis arizonae

shoulder

LizardsChihuahuan Spotted WhiptailAspidoscelis exsanguis

shoulder

LizardsCommon Checkered WhiptailAspidoscelis tesselatus

shoulder

LizardsCrevice Spiny LizardSceloporus poinsettii

shoulder

LizardsDesert Grassland WhiptailAspidoscelis uniparens

shoulder

LizardsGreat Plains SkinkPlestiodon obsoletus

shoulder

LizardsGreater Short-horned LizardPhrynosoma hernandesi

shoulder

LizardsLong-nosed Leopard LizardGambelia wislizenii

shoulder

LizardsMarbled WhiptailAspidoscelis marmoratus

shoulder

LizardsPlateau Fence LizardSceloporus tristichus

shoulder

LizardsPlateau Striped WhiptailAspidoscelis velox

shoulder

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

shoulder

LizardsTexas Horned LizardPhrynosoma cornutum

shoulder

LizardsTwin-spotted Spiny LizardSceloporus bimaculosus

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesOrnate Box TurtleTerrapene ornata

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWoodhouse's ToadAnaxyrus woodhousii

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersWestern Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma mavortium

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.

New Mexico in April

What reptiles and amphibians are out in New Mexico in April?

48 reptiles and amphibians are active in New Mexico in April, and 23 are at peak. Peak species include the Southwestern Fence Lizard, Common Side-blotched Lizard, Gopher Snake, and Pond Slider.

Are venomous snakes active in New Mexico in April?

Yes. The Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Prairie Rattlesnake, and Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake can be active in April. Watch where you step and don't handle them.