Month by month

What Reptiles and Amphibians Are Out in Tennessee in December

33 reptiles and amphibians are active in Tennessee in December, and 23 are at peak. Peak species include the Pond Slider, Eastern Newt, Green Frog, and Northern Zigzag Salamander.

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

Full 12-month Tennessee calendar Pick your ecoregion

Species out across Tennessee, by group and month

Group
Snakes	4	13	19	22	21	20	18	19	19	18	13	5
Lizards	1	5	7	7	8	7	6	7	5	5	5	3
Turtles	2	6	9	11	11	11	10	9	8	7	3	2
Frogs and Toads	10	11	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	11	10	9
Salamanders	16	19	26	29	23	21	18	15	19	23	21	14

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

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At peak in December 23

Snakes

peak

SnakesDeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi

peak

SnakesNorthern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorus

venomous

Lizards

peak

LizardsGreen AnoleAnolis carolinensis

Turtles

peak

TurtlesPond SliderTrachemys scripta

peak

TurtlesRiver CooterPseudemys concinna

Frogs and Toads

peak

Frogs and ToadsAmerican BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus

peak

Frogs and ToadsGreen FrogLithobates clamitans

peak

Frogs and ToadsPickerel FrogLithobates palustris

peak

Frogs and ToadsSouthern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalus

Salamanders

peak

SalamandersBlue Ridge Two-lined SalamanderEurycea wilderae

peak

SalamandersCave SalamanderEurycea lucifuga

peak

SalamandersEastern NewtNotophthalmus viridescens

peak

SalamandersMarbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

peak

SalamandersMole SalamanderAmbystoma talpoideum

peak

SalamandersNorthern Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

peak

SalamandersNorthern Zigzag SalamanderPlethodon dorsalis

peak

SalamandersRed SalamanderPseudotriton ruber

peak

SalamandersSouthern Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon serratus

peak

SalamandersSouthern Two-lined SalamanderEurycea cirrigera

peak

SalamandersSouthern Zigzag SalamanderPlethodon ventralis

peak

SalamandersSpotted Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus conanti

peak

SalamandersSpotted SalamanderAmbystoma maculatum

peak

SalamandersSpring SalamanderGyrinophilus porphyriticus

Shoulder season in December 10

Snakes

shoulder

SnakesCentral RatsnakePantherophis alleghaniensis

shoulder

SnakesCommon Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

shoulder

SnakesRing-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus

Lizards

shoulder

LizardsEastern Fence LizardSceloporus undulatus

shoulder

LizardsMediterranean House GeckoHemidactylus turcicus

introduced

Frogs and Toads

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsCope's Gray Tree FrogDryophytes chrysoscelis

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsGreen TreefrogDryophytes cinereus

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsNorthern Cricket FrogAcris crepitans

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsUpland Chorus FrogPseudacris feriarum

shoulder

Frogs and ToadsWood FrogLithobates sylvaticus

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.

Tennessee in December

What reptiles and amphibians are out in Tennessee in December?

33 reptiles and amphibians are active in Tennessee in December, and 23 are at peak. Peak species include the Pond Slider, Eastern Newt, Green Frog, and Northern Zigzag Salamander.

Are venomous snakes active in Tennessee in December?

Yes. The Northern Cottonmouth can be active in December. Watch where you step and don't handle them.