MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

REPTILES

• Maryland State Reptile

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina), Glen Burnie, Maryland, October 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), Tawes Building, Dept. of Natural Resources, Annapolis, Maryland, October 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Classified as testudines, turtles come in many shapes and sizes. From the Diamondback Terrapin, to the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Maryland exemplifies this diversity. Known as "sea turtles", members of the Cheloniidae family possess distinct flippers instead of legs, and spend most of their lives underwater. Due to human as well as animal predations, as well as risks associated with their extensive travels, all species of sea turtles found in Maryland are classified as either endangered, or threatened.

Whether possessing flippers, feet, or nothing at all, numerous examples of Maryland's reptile populace are on display at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

In the listing below, all reptiles noted are native to Maryland.

Cornsnake (Pantherosphis guttatus)
Carnivore; diuranal; serpentes; hibernates during winter months; 4 to 6 feet long; orange to brown-yellow scales, with black outlined patches of red along spine; can live as long as twenty years; skilled climber; prefers overgrown fields, meadows and marshes. Also known as Red Ratsnake

Cooter, Northern Red-bellied (Pseudemys rubriventris)
Omnivore; testudines; 10 to 12 inches long; up to 10 lbs.; distinct "belly" is bright red, with dark brown to black patterns. Also known as American Red-bellied Turtle.

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Poisonous; carnivore; serpentes; 20 to 37 inches long; color ranges from tan to brown, with distinct "hourglass-shaped" bands of darker color (although not all bands will be this shape); juveniles possess distinct bright-colored tail, used to draw prey. Prefers coniferous forests and swamps. Mistaken for northern water snake, copperhead bands are wider at belly, and taper to spine. Also known as American Copperhead, Death Adder, and Moccasin.

Earthsnake, Eastern Smooth (Virginia valeriae)
Carnivore; serpentes; 7 to 10 inches long; brown, gray, or red in color; burrower. Mistaken for mountain earthsnake, eastern smooth earthsnake scales are more flush, and smooth. First recorded specimen, Kent County.

Earthsnake, Mountain (Virginia pulchra)
Carnivore; serpentes; 7 to 13 inches long; brown, gray, or red in color; prefers coniferous forests, mountainous terrain. Mistaken for eastern smooth earthsnake, mountain earthsnake scales are more keeled, or rough.
Classified as Endangered in Maryland.

Gartersnake, Eastern (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Carnivore; serpentes; hibernates during winter months; dark green in color; distinct three stripe pattern ranging from gray to yellow; can live up to ten years; prefers marshes, meadows, and gardens.

Green Snake, Rough (Opheodrys aestivus)
Insectivore; diurnal; serpentes; 20 to 30 inches long; bright green body with white to yellow bellies. Mistaken for smooth green snake, rough green snake scales are more keeled, or rough.

Green Snake, Smooth (Opheodrys vernalis)
Insectivore; serpentes; bright green body, with off white belly; 12 to 36 inches long; Prefers meadows and prairies. Mistaken for rough green snake, smooth green snake scales are more flush, and smooth. Also known as Grass Snake.

Kingsnake, Eastern (Lampropeltis getula)
Carnivore; serpentes; diurnal; shiny black body, with distinct white or yellow bands; 36 to 48 inches long; usually found near bodies of water. Resistant to venom, eastern kingsnake diet can include copperheads, and rattlesnakes. Also known as Chain Snake.

Kingsnake, Yellow-bellied (Lampropeltis calligaster)
serpentes; gray to light brown in color, with red or brown patches, and a white to yellow belly; prefers forest clearings, and open fields. Also known as Brown Kingsnake.

Lizard, Eastern Fence (Sceloporus udulatus)
Insectivore; lacertilia; range from gray to brown, with females having black stripes along back; males have distinct bright blue patches on throat and belly during mating season; prefer forests, and spend most of their life in trees.

Milksnake, Coastal Plain (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides)
serpentes

Milksnake, Eastern (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)
serpentes

Pinesnake (Pituophis malanoleucus)
Carnivore; serpentes; body is light brown, covered in patches of black, and dark or reddish browns; 48 to 100 inches long; prefers coniferous forests, and farmland. Also known as Common Pinesnake, or Northern Pinesnake.

Racerunner, Six-lined (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus)
Insectivore; diurnal; lacertilia; hibernate; 6 to 9.5 inches long; tail is usually two-thirds of total length; range in color from dark green to black, with six distinct yellow to green stripes running from head to tail; prefers grasslands with dry soil.

Ratsnake, Eastern (Pantherosphis alleghaniensis)
Carnivore; serpentes; 47 to 72 inches long; completely black except for white chin; prefers deciduous forests, nests in hollow trees, or empty rodent dens.

Ratsnake, Black (Elaphe obsoleta)
Suborder of Eastern Ratsnake

Black Ratsnake (Elaphe obsoleta), Glen Burnie, Maryland, May 2010. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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Sea Turtle, Atlantic Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Carnivore; testudines.
Classified as Endangered.

Sea Turtle, Green (Chelonia mydas)
Carnivore; testudines.
Classified as Threatened.

Sea Turtle, Kemp's Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii)
Carnivore; testudines.
Classified as Endangered.

Sea Turtle, Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)
Carnivore; testudines; largest sea turtle.
Classified as Endangered.

Sea Turtle, Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)
Carnivore; testudines; 31 to 45 inches long; 170 to 350 lbs.; yellow-brown skin, with reddish-brown shell. Distinct for disproportionately large head, also is largest hard-shelled turtle in world.
Classified as Threatened.

Skink, Broad-headed (Plestiodon laticeps)
Carnivore; lacertilia; juveniles possess striped faces and bright blue tails; adult females retain striped face, while male faces turn red to orange; blue tail fades with age.

Skink, Coal (Plestiodon anthracinus)
Carnivore; lacertilia; 5 to 7 inches long
Classified as Endangered.

Skink, Five-lined (Plestiodon fasciatus)
Carnivore; lacertilia

Skink, Ground (Scincella lateralis)
Carnivore; lacertilia

Slider, Red-eared (Trachemys scripta)
Omnivore; testudines; brumates during winter months; 8-13 inches long; distinct red strip on each side of head.

Snake, Eastern Hog-nosed (Heterodon platirhinos)
serpentes

Snake, Eastern Ribbon (Thamnophis sauritus)
serpentes

Snake, Eastern Worm (Carphophis amoenus)
serpentes

Snake, Northern Ring-necked (Diadophis punctatus edwarsi)
serpentes

Snake, Queen (Regina septemvittata)
serpentes

Snake, Rainbow (Farancia erytrogramma)
serpentes
Classified as Endangered.

Snake, Red-bellied (Storeia occipitomaculata)
serpentes

Snake, Scarlet (Cemophora coccinea)
serpentes

Snake, Southern Ring-necked (Diadophis punctatus punctatus)
serpentes

Turtle, Bog (Glyptemys muhlenbergii)
Testudines
Classified as Threatened.

Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), Tawes Building, Dept. of Natural Resources, Annapolis, Maryland, April 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Turtle, Eastern Mud (Kinosternon subrubrum)
Testudines

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina), Glen Burnie, Maryland, October 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Turtle, Eastern Painted (Chrysemys picta picta)
Testudines

Turtle, Midland Painted (Chrysemys picta marginata)
Testudines

Turtle, Northern Map (Graptemys geographica)
Testudines

Turtle, Snapping (Chelydra serpentina)
Testudines

Turtle, Spiny Softshelled (Apalone spinifera)
Testudines
Classified as In Need of Conservation.

Turtle, Spotted (Clemmys guttata)
Testudines

Turtle, Wood (Glyptemys insculpta)
Testudines

Water Snake, Northern (Nerodia sipedon)
serpentes; hibernates during winter months; saliva is mild anticoagulant, but poses little risk to humans. Mistaken for copperheads, northern water snake bands are wider at spine, and taper to belly.

Water Snake, Red-bellied (Nerodia erythrogaster)
serpentes.

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