Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in New Mexico in September

63 reptiles and amphibians are active in New Mexico in September, and 46 are at peak. Peak species include the Southwestern Fence Lizard, Common Side-blotched Lizard, Gopher Snake, and Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake.

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 September 46

Snakes

peak

SnakesBig Bend Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora deserticola

peak

SnakesBlack-necked Garter SnakeThamnophis cyrtopsis

peak

SnakesCheckered Garter SnakeThamnophis marcianus

peak

SnakesChihuahuan NightsnakeHypsiglena jani

peak

SnakesCommon CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum

peak

SnakesDesert KingsnakeLampropeltis splendida

peak

SnakesEastern Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus ornatus

venomous

peak

SnakesGlossy SnakeArizona elegans

peak

SnakesGopher SnakePituophis catenifer

peak

SnakesLong-nosed SnakeRhinocheilus lecontei

peak

SnakesMojave RattlesnakeCrotalus scutulatus

venomous

peak

SnakesMountain Patch-nosed SnakeSalvadora grahamiae

peak

SnakesPlains Black-headed SnakeTantilla nigriceps

peak

SnakesPlains Hognose SnakeHeterodon nasicus

peak

SnakesPrairie RattlesnakeCrotalus viridis

venomous

peak

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

peak

SnakesRock RattlesnakeCrotalus lepidus

venomous

peak

SnakesSmooth GreensnakeOpheodrys vernalis

peak

SnakesStriped WhipsnakeMasticophis taeniatus

peak

SnakesWestern Black-tailed RattlesnakeCrotalus molossus

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern Diamond-backed RattlesnakeCrotalus atrox

venomous

peak

SnakesWestern Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans

Lizards

peak

LizardsCommon Side-blotched LizardUta stansburiana

peak

LizardsCrevice Spiny LizardSceloporus poinsettii

peak

LizardsDesert Grassland WhiptailAspidoscelis uniparens

peak

LizardsGreater Earless LizardCophosaurus texanus

peak

LizardsGreater Short-horned LizardPhrynosoma hernandesi

peak

LizardsMadrean Alligator LizardElgaria kingii

peak

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

peak

LizardsNew Mexico WhiptailAspidoscelis neomexicanus

peak

LizardsOrnate Tree LizardUrosaurus ornatus

peak

LizardsPlateau Fence LizardSceloporus tristichus

peak

LizardsSouthwestern Fence LizardSceloporus cowlesi

peak

LizardsTwin-spotted Spiny LizardSceloporus bimaculosus

Turtles

peak

TurtlesCommon Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

peak

TurtlesOrnate Box TurtleTerrapene ornata

peak

TurtlesPainted TurtleChrysemys picta

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

introduced

peak

Frogs and ToadsChihuahuan Green ToadAnaxyrus debilis

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreat Plains ToadAnaxyrus cognatus

peak

Frogs and ToadsMexican SpadefootSpea multiplicata

peak

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Leopard FrogLithobates pipiens

peak

Frogs and ToadsPlains Leopard FrogLithobates blairi

peak

Frogs and ToadsRed-spotted ToadAnaxyrus punctatus

peak

Frogs and ToadsWoodhouse's ToadAnaxyrus woodhousii

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersWestern Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma mavortium

Shoulder season in September 17

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsArizona Striped WhiptailAspidoscelis arizonae

shoulder

LizardsChihuahuan Spotted WhiptailAspidoscelis exsanguis

shoulder

LizardsClark's Spiny LizardSceloporus clarkii

shoulder

LizardsCommon Checkered WhiptailAspidoscelis tesselatus

shoulder

LizardsEastern Collared LizardCrotaphytus collaris

shoulder

LizardsGreat Plains SkinkPlestiodon obsoletus

shoulder

LizardsLong-nosed Leopard LizardGambelia wislizenii

shoulder

LizardsPlateau Striped WhiptailAspidoscelis velox

shoulder

LizardsPrairie LizardSceloporus consobrinus

shoulder

LizardsRoundtail Horned LizardPhrynosoma modestum

shoulder

LizardsTexas Horned LizardPhrynosoma cornutum

shoulder

LizardsWestern Earless LizardHolbrookia maculata

Turtles

shoulder

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

shoulder

TurtlesSpiny SoftshellApalone spinifera

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCanyon Tree FrogDryophytes arenicolor

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCouch's SpadefootScaphiopus couchii

Salamanders

shoulder

SalamandersSacramento Mountain SalamanderAneides hardii

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 September

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

Are venomous snakes active in New Mexico in September?

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