Snakes and Lizards in Your Pocket: A Guide to Reptiles of the Upper Midwest (Bur Oak Guide)

a bur oak guide

Snakes and Lizards in your pocket A Guide to Reptiles of the Upper Midwest By Terry VanDeWalle Photographs by Suzanne L. Collins

SNAKES

akee snak rterr sn garte ed ga re sided d-sid red➔

Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis

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Eastern ribbon snake Thamnophis sauritus

range: Eastern (T. s. sauritus): IL, IN, OH; Northern (T. s. septentrionalis): IL, IN, MI, OH, WI size: 18–26 inches, maximum 40 inches description: Medium-size, slender black snake with yellow or orange midback stripe and yellow stripes on sides on scale rows 3 and 4. May have pair of faint spots on top of head that never touch each other. Tail long, approximately one-third of total length. Belly greenish white, unmarked. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Vegetation adjacent to swamps, ponds, marshes, creeks, rivers similar species: Western ribbon snake has pair of spots on top of head that touch each other. Plains garter snake has stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4, tail less than one-quarter of total length.

Plains garter snake Thamnophis radix

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range: Eastern (T. s. sirtalis): IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI; Red-sided (T. s. parietalis): IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD size: 16–26 inches, maximum 50 inches description: Medium-size dark brown or black snake with yellow or gray midback stripe and yellow stripe on sides confined to scale rows 2 and 3. Red-sided subspecies has red or orange bars separated by black bars on sides. Belly greenish or yellowish with 2 rows of black spots partially hidden by belly scales. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Meadows, marshes, woodlands, streams, city lots, parks similar species: Plains garter snake has stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4. Brown snake lacks stripe along sides, anal plate is divided.

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI size: 15–28 inches, maximum 43 inches description: Medium-size dark brown or black snake with orange-yellow midback stripe, yellow-gray stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4, 2 rows of black spots or blotches on sides. Black bars on lips, pair of brightly colored spots on top of head that may or may not touch. Belly gray-green with dark spots along edges. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Open grassy areas adjacent to water similar species: Common garter snake has stripe on sides on scale rows 2 and 3. Ribbon snakes have stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4 but are more slender with long tail one-quarter or more of total length.

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Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus

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range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MO, NE, WI size: 20–30 inches, maximum 48.5 inches description: Medium-size, slender black snake with orange midback stripe, yellow or greenish stripes on sides on scale rows 3 and 4, pair of brightly colored spots on top of head that touch each other. Tail more than one-quarter of total length but usually less than one-third. Belly greenish white, unmarked. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Vegetation adjacent to swamps, ponds, marshes, creeks, rivers similar species: Eastern ribbon snake may have pair of spots on top of head that do not touch each other. Plains garter snake has stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4, tail less than one-quarter of total length.

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range: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI size: 12–20 inches, maximum 26 inches description: Slender, unpatterned bright lime green snake. Yellow upper lip, cream to pale yellow belly. Young dark olive or bluish gray. Scales smooth, anal plate divided. habitat: Wet prairies, bogs, meadows, marsh borders, open woodlands similar species: Rough green snake is more slender and longer and has keeled scales.

Rough green snake Opheodrys aestivus

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Smooth green snake Liochlorophis vernalis

range: IL, IN, KS, MO, OH size: 22–32 inches, maximum 45.6 inches description: Slender, unpatterned bright green snake. Upper lip and lower portion of head yellow. Belly white, yellow, or pale greenish. Young grayish green. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Moist habitats along waterways in woodlands, marsh or lake borders, woodland edges similar species: Smooth green snake is not as long, scales smooth.

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Brown snake Storeria dekayi

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Ringneck snake Diadophis punctatus

range: Mississippi (D. p. stictogenys): IL, MO; Northern (D. p. edwardsii): IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI; Prairie (D. p. arnyi): IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI size: 10–15 inches, maximum 27 inches description: Bluish black, bluish gray, or black with yellow, orange, or cream ring around neck. Young may be darker above than adult. Belly yellow or orange with scattered dark spots. Subspecies differ in belly spots: northern is unmarked or has few spots, prairie has numerous irregularly placed spots, Mississippi has paired spots down middle of belly. Scales smooth, anal plate divided. habitat: Rocky hillsides, woodlands, woodland edges similar species: Brown snake and redbelly snake have dark blotches or spots on neck but scales are keeled.

northern redbelly snakes

Redbelly snake Storeria occipitomaculata ➔

range: Midland (S. d. wrightorum): IL, IN, IA, MI, MO, OH, WI; Northern (S. d. dekayi): IN, MI, OH; Texas (S. d. texana): IA, KS, MN, MO, SD, WI size: 9–13 inches, maximum 20.75 inches description: Grayish brown to dark brown snake with 2 parallel rows of black spots on back. Belly cream to pink with 1 or more small black dots at side of each scale. Subspecies can be distinguished by head and back patterns: northern has small blotch on back of head, dark downward stripe on side of head, 2 rows of unconnected spots on back; Texas has large blotch on back of head, no downward stripe on side of head, large spot under eye, 2 rows of unconnected spots on back; midland has small blotch on back of head, dark downward stripe on side of head, 2 rows of connected spots on back. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Forests, prairies, marshes, old fields, farmland, city lots similar species: Redbelly snake has 15 scale rows and red, orange, or pale yellow belly. Garter snakes have single anal plates, light stripe on sides. Ringneck snake has smooth scales.

range: Black Hills (S. o. pahasapae): IA, MN, NE, ND, SD; Northern (S. o. occipitomaculata): IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, OH, SD, WI size: 8–10 inches, maximum 16 inches description: Little dark brown, olive-black, or grayish snake with 3 small, separate light spots on neck and 4 narrow dark stripes or 1 wide light stripe on midback and bright red, orange, or pale yellow belly. Subspecies can be distinguished by head and neck patterns: northern has 3 well-defined neck spots, light spot on upper lip; Black Hills has very small or no neck spots, no light spot on upper lip. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Forests, moist woods, wet meadows, marshes, prairies similar species: Brown snake has 2 rows of parallel black spots on back, cream to pink belly with small black dots at side of each belly scale.

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Lined snake Tropidoclonion lineatum

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Western hognose snake Heterodon nasicus

range: Dusty (H. n. gloydi): IL, KS, MO; Plains (H. n. nasicus): IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD size: 15–25 inches, maximum 39.5 inches description: Stout-bodied snake with gray or tan back covered with dark blotches. Sharply upturned snout, dark stripe between eyes extending diagonally to corner of mouth. Belly jet black with yellow or white blotches, underside of tail black. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Prairies or savannas with well-drained sandy or gravelly soil similar species: Eastern hognose snake has underside of tail that is always lighter than belly, slightly upturned snout.

Eastern hognose snake Heterodon platirhinos

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range: IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD size: 8.75–15 inches, maximum 22 inches description: Small, slender gray-brown to olivebrown snake with cream, yellow, or orange midback stripe, similarly colored stripes on sides on scale rows 2 and 3. Each stripe bordered by row of dark spots. Belly pale green to yellowish green with double row of black half moons down midbelly. Small head barely wider than body, heavily marked with black spots behind eyes. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Originally prairies and grasslands, now found in city lots similar species: Garter snakes and ribbon snakes usually lack dark spots on belly but, if present, spots are never shaped like half moons.

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD, WI size: 20–33 inches, maximum 45.5 inches description: Thick-bodied snake that varies in color from solid black to brown, gray, greenish, yellow, or pink usually with spots along back and sides. Slightly upturned snout, dark stripe between eyes extending diagonally to corner of mouth. Belly light or dark, underside of tail always lighter than belly. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Loose sandy soils in open woodlands, woodland edges, grassy fields, farmland similar species: Western hognose snake has black underside of tail, sharply upturned snout.

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Northern water snake Nerodia sipedon

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Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MO size: 30–48 inches, maximum 63 inches description: Fairly large water snake named for diamondlike pattern along back, consisting of lighter background color outlined by darker chainlike pattern on background color of light brown or dirty yellow. Head darker brown with dark brown bars on yellow upper lip. Belly cream to yellow with dark gray to black or brown half moons. Young strongly patterned with belly brightly tinged with orange. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Lakes, oxbows, ponds, marshes, ditches, streams similar species: Cottonmouth adults lack diamondlike pattern, have white markings on face, elliptical pupils.

Plainbelly water snake Nerodia erythrogaster

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range: Midland (N. s. pleuralis): IL, IN, MO, OH; Northern (N. s. sipedon): IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI size: 24–42 inches, maximum 55.1 inches description: Mediumsize tan to gray water snake with wide brown or reddish brown blotches along back on first third of body, dark brown rectangles alternating along back and sides on remaining two-thirds. Dark bars on upper lip, no dark stripe from eye to corner of mouth. Chin, throat, and belly cream to yellow with reddish half moons on belly. Northern subspecies has 30 or more body bands whose width is greater than distance between bands, half moons scattered on belly. Midland subspecies has fewer than 30 body bands whose width is less than distance between bands, double row of half moons on belly. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Lakes, oxbows, ponds, marshes, ditches, creeks, streams, rivers, canals similar species: Cottonmouth adults lack pattern on back or have indistinct hourglass-shaped crossbands, white markings on face, elliptical pupils. Blotched water snake has plain yellow or light orange belly, unpatterned underside of tail.

range: Blotched (N. e. transversa): KS, MO; Copperbelly (N. e. neglecta): IL, IN, IA, MI, OH; Yellowbelly (N. e. flavigaster): IL, IA, MO size: 30–48 inches, maximum 62 inches description: Large water snake with back of solid bluish gray or reddish gray (yellowbelly and copperbelly subspecies) or shades of brown or gray with variably sized dark blotches (blotched subspecies). Subspecies can be distinguished by belly color: yellowbelly is solid yellow, copperbelly is solid coppery red, blotched is solid yellow or light orange. Young of all subspecies strongly patterned like blotched water snake. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Bayous, lakes, oxbows, wet bottomland woods, marshes, ditches, streams, rivers, sloughs similar species: Northern water snake has crossbands on neck and body, half moons on belly, patterned underside of tail.

adult speckled kingsnake

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Kingsnake Lampropeltis species

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Milk snake Lampropeltis triangulum

range: Eastern (L. t. triangulum): IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, OH, WI; Red (L. t. syspila): IL, IN, IA, KS, MO, NE, SD size: 24–36 inches, maximum 52 inches description: Small to mediumsize snake varying from gray to tan with series of white or yellow, red, and black bands. White or yellow bands never contact red bands. Reddish blotches on back and sides boldly bordered by black in eastern subspecies, reduced or absent in red subspecies. Y- or V-shaped mark near back of head (eastern) or light collar on neck (red). Belly irregular checkerboard with black on white. Scales smooth, anal plate single. habitat: Fields, woodlands, rocky hillsides, river bottoms, wetlands, outbuildings similar species: Copperhead has coppery, virtually unmarked head, single row of crossbands on back, no checkerboard pattern on belly. Water snakes have keeled scales, divided anal plates. Prairie kingsnake has brown to reddish brown blotches on back, never bright red, brown blotches on belly.

Prairie kingsnake Lampropeltis calligaster ➔

range: Black (L. nigra): IL, IN, OH; Speckled (L. holbrooki): IL, IA, KS, MO, NE size: 36–48 inches, maximum 72 inches description: Glossy snake with white or yellow spot centered in each of many black or dark brown scales on back on speckled kingsnake; back of black kingsnake plain black or with greatly reduced pattern. Dark bars on lips. Young have light crossbands on back with little or no spotting between them, spots along sides of body. Belly patterned with mix of cream or yellow and black. Scales smooth, anal plate single. habitat: Wooded hillsides, wooded stream valleys similar species: Eastern racer has smooth scales, divided anal plate. Rat snakes have weakly keeled scales, divided anal plates.

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MO, NE size: 30–42 inches, maximum 56 inches description: Shiny gray to brown with approximately 60 brown to reddish brown, black-bordered blotches along back; 2 alternating rows of dark spots along sides of body may fuse together. Head with 3 dark marks—stripe extending diagonally from eye to corner of mouth, second stripe extending downward from eye onto lip, and bar that crosses between and in front of eyes. Belly cream to yellow with squarish brown blotches. Young snakes strongly spotted. Scales smooth, anal plate single. habitat: Grasslands, open woodlands, prairies, savannas similar species: Rat snakes have weakly keeled scales, divided anal plates. Western fox snake has weakly keeled scales, divided anal plate, checkerboard pattern on belly. Milk snake has reddish blotches on back and sides boldly bordered by black, black marks on belly.

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Bullsnake Pituophis catenifer sayi

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI size: 37–72 inches, maximum 110 inches description: Large, slender cream, yellow, or tan snake with black, brown, or reddish brown unconnected blotches along back, black tail bands. Dark stripe extending from behind eye to corner of mouth, narrow snout with enlarged scale at tip. Belly yellow with bold black spots. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Prairies, grasslands, old fields similar species: Prairie kingsnake has smooth scales, single anal plate. Western fox snake has rounded snout, weakly keeled scales, divided anal plate, checkerboard pattern on belly.

Western fox snake Mintonius vulpinus

range: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI size: 36–54 inches, maximum 70.5 inches description: Tan with large dark brown or black blotches along back, smaller dark blotches on sides. Dark stripe extending diagonally from eye to corner of mouth, rounded snout. Belly ➔ yellow with distinct black checkerboard pattern. Scales weakly keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Prairies, farmland, open woodlands, woodland edges similar species: Milk snake and adult western rat snake prairie kingsnakes have smooth scales, single anal plates. Bullsnake has narrow with cloudy eyes snout with enlarged scale at tip, strongly prior to shedding keeled scales, single anal plate, no checkerboard pattern on belly.

Rat snake Scotophis species

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young

range: Midland (S. spiloides): IL, IN, MI, OH, WI; Western (S. obsoletus): IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD size: 42–72 inches, maximum 101 inches description: Young strongly patterned along back on body and tail with gray or brown blotches on pale gray ground color; body and tail darken as they grow and blotches become indistinct or disappear. Adults usually plain, shiny black or gray, occasionally with indistinct spotted pattern. White, yellow, orange, or red on skin between scales. Chin and throat white or cream. Dark stripe between eye and corner of mouth. Body shaped like loaf of bread in cross section. Belly checkered with black and white. Scales weakly keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Forests, shrubs, woodland edges, abandoned buildings similar species: Black racer has smooth scales, body round in cross section. Milk snake and kingsnakes have smooth scales, single anal plates.

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Eastern racer Coluber constrictor

range: Blue (C. c. foxi): IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, OH, WI; Northern black (C. c. constrictor): OH; Southern black (C. c. priapus): IL, IN, MO; Yellowbelly (C. c. flaviventris): IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD size: 36–60 inches, maximum 72 inches description: Adults uniformly colored blue (blue subspeadult yellowbelly racer cies), brown, gray, olive (yellowbelly subspecies), or black (black subspecies). ➔ Throat distinctly lighter, white to yellow, unspotted. Belly solid bluish (blue), yellow (yellowbelly), or black (black). Young have blotches or spots on back becoming less distinct toward tail, small dark spots along sides and belly. Scales smooth, anal plate divided. habitat: Prairies, grasslands, open woodlands usually near water similar species: Rat snake has keeled scales on midback. Rough green young snake has keeled scales. Smooth green snake has 15 scale rows on back.

Copperhead ➔ Agkistrodon contortrix

Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus ➔

venomous range: Northern (A. c. mokasen): IL, IN, IA, MO, OH; Osage (A. c. phaeogaster): IL, KS, MO, NE; Southern (A. c. contortrix): IL, MO size: 24–36 inches, maximum 40 inches description: Large, heavy-bodied snake with reddish brown hourglassshaped, dark-margined crossbands along back on yellowish brown to rusty brown ground color. Southern subspecies has well-marked crossbands that are very narrow across back; Osage subspecies has distinct dark bands across back with no dark spots between bands; northern subspecies has wide bands across back. Named for copper tone of head, although highly variable among subspecies. Small pit on each side of head between eye and nostril, thin dark line extending from eye to angle of jaw, 2 dark spots on top of head. Belly yellow to brown with spots near sides. Scales weakly keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Wooded rocky hillsides, brushy areas along streams similar species: Water snakes have strongly keeled scales and are seldom far from water. Milk snake and western fox snake have patterned head and belly, round pupils.

venomous range: IL, IN, KS, MO size: 30–48 inches, maximum 74 inches description: Large, semiaquatic snake. Young have olive or dark brown backs with dark crossbands. Adults become uniformly dark olive or black or have dark brown or black ragged crossbands. Small pit on each side of head between eye and nostril, dark stripe from snout through eye and upper lip. Belly tan to gray, heavily marked with black. Scales strongly keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Swamps, lakes, rivers, sloughs, ditches similar species: Nonpoisonous water snakes have divided anal plates, no facial pit.

Massasauga ➔ Sistrurus catenatus

venomous range: Eastern (S. c. catenatus): IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI; Western (S. c. tergeminus): IA, KS, MO, NE size: 18–30 inches, maximum 39.5 inches description: Thick-bodied rattlesnake with brown or grayish black to black blotches on back alternating with 2 or 3 rows of brown to black blotches on gray ground color. Dark stripe from eye to angle of jaw, small pit on each side of head between eye and nostril, 9 large scales on top of head, small rattle on tail. Belly chiefly black (eastern subspecies) or light with few dark markings (western subspecies). Scales strongly keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Bogs, marshes, old fields, prairies, sedge meadows, wet grasslands similar species: Timber rattlesnake has small scales on top of head. Western fox snake has tail that tapers to point with no rattle, may vibrate tail when threatened.

western massasauga

venomous range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI size: 30–60 inches, maximum 74.5 inches description: Large, heavy-bodied rattlesnake with black jagged crossbars or blotches on gray, light yellow, or greenish white ground color. Sometimes an orange or rust stripe down midback, tail uniformly black or with faint bands in adults. Small scales on top of head, head larger than neck, small pit on each side of head between eye and nostril, dark stripe behind each eye, large rattle on tail. Belly pink, white, cream, or gray with dark stippling along sides. Scales strongly keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Forests along rocky outcrops, wooded stream valleys similar species: Massasauga has 9 large scales on top of head, small rattle.

Prairie rattlesnake Crotalus viridis

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Timber rattlesnake ➔ Crotalus horridus

venomous range: IA, KS, NE, ND, SD size: 35–45 inches, maximum 57 inches description: Greenish gray, greenish brown, light brown or yellowish with broad dark brown blotches on back near head that narrow and join with markings along sides to form distinct crossbands on tail. Small scales on top of head, small pit on each side of head between eye and nostril, 2 light diagonal stripes on side of face, stripe behind eye passing above corner of mouth, large rattle on tail. Belly gray, cream, or white with no dark markings. Scales strongly keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Grasslands similar species: Timber rattlesnake’s tail is uniformly black or has faint bands. Massasauga has 9 large scales on top of head.

LIZARDS

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range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MO, NE, WI size: 22–42 inches description: Gray, tan, or brown legless lizard with dark stripes along back and sides, including distinct stripe along midback. Thin dark stripes below noticeable groove on sides. Belly white. White flecks in middle of scales may form light stripes. Older adults may be brown with irregular light crossbands on back and tail. Tail long, up to two-thirds of total length, with dark stripes on underside. habitat: Dry grasslands; dry, open woods similar species: Snakes lack movable eyelids and external ear openings.

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Ground skink Scincella lateralis

range: IL, IN, KS, MO, OH size: 3–5.75 inches description: Small, smooth golden brown to blackish brown lizard with dark stripe on sides from snout to middle of tail. May have small dark flecks on back and sides. Belly white or yellowish. Limbs short. Clear scale on lower eyelid allows lizard to see when eyes are closed. habitat: Woodlands, woodland edges similar species: Other small brown lizards have rough scales, light stripes, or both.

adult male prairie racerunner

Six-lined racerunner Aspidoscelis sexlineata

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Western slender glass lizard Ophisaurus attenuatus

range: Prairie (A. s. viridis): IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI; Six-lined (A. s. sexlineatus): IL, IN, MO size: 6–10.5 inches description: Long, slender lizard with olive to brown back and 6 (six-lined subspecies) or 7 (prairie subspecies) white, light gray, yellow, or blue stripes that mostly extend to tail. Head and front part of body tinged with blue or green (bright green in prairie racerunner). Tail gray or brown, usually longer than body. Belly gray to pale blue in males and salmon-pink to white in females with 8 rows of large rectangular scales. Young similar to adult but with light blue tails. habitat: Open areas with loose sandy soil such as sand or loess prairies, rocky hillsides, river floodplains similar species: Five-lined skink is shiny with belly scales similar to scales on back in size and shape.

Broadhead skink Plestiodon laticeps

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range: IL, IN, KS, MO, OH size: 6.5–12.75 inches description: Large lizard with smooth scales, light and dark stripes, 5 scales on upper lip between nose and eye, 1 enlarged scale behind mouth near ear opening. Color and pattern vary with age. Young black with 5 thin white or yellowish stripes and bright blue tails. Adult females olivebrown with faint light and dark stripes. Adult males olive-brown with few or no stripes. During breeding season, males develop swollen orange-red heads. habitat: Woodlands, forest edges, outbuildings similar species: Five-lined skink has 4 scales on upper lip between nose and eye and 2 enlarged scales behind mouth near ear opening. ➔

adult breeding male

Five-lined skink Plestiodon fasciatus

range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI size: 5–8.5 inches description: Shiny smooth scales, 5 light lines on back alternating with dark stripes, 4 scales on upper lip between nose and eye, 2 enlarged scales young behind mouth near ear opening. Color and pattern vary with age. Young have ➔ 5 white or yellowish stripes on black ground color and bright blue tails. Adult females normally brown with some striped pattern remaining. Adult males usually have traces of stripes but become uniformly brown with bright adult breeding male orange-red jaws during breeding season. habitat: Open woodlands and ➔ cut-over woodlots with rotting stumps and logs, buildings, rock gardens similar species: Broadhead skink has 5 scales on upper lip between nose and eye and 1 enlarged scale behind mouth near ear opening. adult female ➔

Northern prairie skink Plestiodon septentrionalis

range: IA, KS, MN, NE, ND, SD, WI size: 5.25–8.75 inches description: Shiny olive or tan lizard with 3 wide tan stripes down back extending onto tail separated by 2 fine black stripes. 3 thin black stripes on sides separated adult female by 2 cream or white stripes. Young black with 7 cream or tan stripes and ➔ bright blue tails. Belly tan to light gray, unmarked. Males develop bright orange-red jaws during breeding season. habitat: Open grasslands or prairies with loose sandy soil adjacent to water, streambanks similar species: Five-lined skink has 5 light lines adult breeding male on back while northern prairie skink appears to have many lines.

SNAKES

Single anal plate (left) and divided anal plate (right)

Keeled scales (left) and smooth scales (right) showing how to count scale rows

tail

Tail of female (above) tapers from anal plate, tail of male is stout at base. Tail begins where anal plate ends.

LIZARDS 1 scale 2 scales

Heads of broadhead skink (left) and five-lined skink (right) showing number of scales on upper lip between nose and eye and number of scales behind mouth near ear opening

This key to adult lizards and snakes is organized into a series of numbered paired choices. Beginning with number 1, for each pair, choose the description that best fits the animal you wish to identify. Move to the next numbered pair indicated at the end of the description. Continue until you reach a description that ends in the name of the animal. 1a 1b

Legs present or absent, ear openings, movable eyelids: lizards: 2 Legs absent, no ear openings, no movable eyelids: snakes: 7

2a

Legs absent, groove on each side of body: western slender glass lizard Legs present: 3

2b 3a 3b 4a

Scales on back small and rough, large scales on belly, 6 or 7 light stripes on body: six-lined racerunner Scales large and smooth all over: 4

4b

Lower eyelids with transparent “window,” usually less than 5 inches long: ground skink Lower eyelids without transparent “window,” usually more than 5 inches long: 5

5a 5b

Midback stripe fades, does not go onto head: northern prairie skink Midback stripe goes onto head: 6

6a 6b

4 scales on upper lip between nose and eye, 2 enlarged scales behind mouth near ear opening: five-lined skink 5 scales on upper lip between nose and eye, 1 enlarged scale behind mouth near ear opening: broadhead skink

7a 7b

Scales smooth: 8 Scales keeled: 13

8a 8b

Anal plate single: 9 Anal plate divided: 11

9a

Body black, unmarked or marked with white or yellow spots: kingsnake Body red or brown: 10

9b

10a Body gray to tan with white or yellow, red, and black bands: milk snake 10b Body gray to brown with reddish blotches alternating with dark spots: prairie kingsnake 11a Yellow, orange, or cream neck ring: ringneck snake 11b No neck ring: 12 12a Body blue, brown, olive, gray, or black, never green: eastern racer 12b Body bright lime green: smooth green snake 13a Anal plate single: 14 13b Anal plate divided: 24 14a Facial pit between eye and nostril; eye with elliptical, vertical pupil: 15 14b No facial pit between eye and nostril, eye with round pupil: 19 15a No rattle at tip of tail: 16 15b Rattle at tip of tail: 17

16a Back has reddish brown hourglass-shaped crossbands, no dark line behind eye: copperhead 16b Back markings, if present, hidden by dark brown or black; dark line behind eye: cottonmouth 17a Top of head has 9 large scales: massasauga 17b Top of head covered with small scales: 18 18a Tail uniformly black or with faint bands: timber rattlesnake 18b Tail not uniformly black with bands usually distinct: prairie rattlesnake 19a Stripes along sides of body: 20 19b No stripes along sides of body, narrow snout with enlarged scale at tip: bullsnake 20a Belly marked with double row of black half moons down center: lined snake 20b Belly unmarked: 21 21a Stripe confined to scale rows 2 and 3: common garter snake 21b Stripe on scale rows 3 and 4: 22 22a Tail less than 1/4 of total length, black bars on lips: plains garter snake 22b Tail more than 1/4 of total length: 23 23a Pair of bright spots on top of head touch: western ribbon snake 23b Pair of faint spots on top of head never touch: eastern ribbon snake 24a Snout upturned: 25 24b Snout not upturned: 26 25a Snout slightly upturned, underside of tail always lighter than belly: eastern hognose snake 25b Snout sharply upturned, underside of tail black: western hognose snake 26a 15–17 scale rows at midbody: 27 26b 20-plus scale rows at midbody: 29 27a 15 scale rows at midbody; belly red, orange, or pale yellow: redbelly snake 27b 17 scale rows at midbody: 28 28a Body grayish brown to dark brown, belly cream to pink: brown snake 28b Body unmarked light green: rough green snake 29a Scales weakly keeled: 30 29b Scales strongly keeled: 31 30a Head brown, body tan with dark blotches, checkerboard pattern on belly: western fox snake 30b Head black, body shiny black or gray with indistinct spotted pattern, white or cream throat: rat snake 31a Belly unmarked yellow, coppery red, or light orange: plainbelly water snake 31b Belly marked: 32 32a Diamondlike pattern on back, gray to black or brown half moons on belly: diamondback water snake 32b More than 20 brown or reddish brown blotches on back, reddish half moons on belly: northern water snake

Snakes and Lizards in Your Pocket

from the rare and docile massasauga to the more familiar bullsnake, snakes are beautiful animals with habits both fascinating and beneficial to humans. Their relatives the lizards, most of which are more easily seen and identified, exhibit similarly fascinating behavior. This colorful addition to our series of laminated guides informs both amateur and professional herpetologists about twenty-seven species of snakes and six species of lizards in the Upper Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota, North Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri.

Terry VanDeWalle provides a complete description of each species, both adult and young, as well as distinguishing characteristics for thirty-two subspecies of snakes and two subspecies of lizards: length, color, head and neck patterns, scales, and so on. He also includes information about habitat preferences such as rocky hillsides, forests, wet meadows, and sand prairies. Most helpful for identifying snakes and lizards in the field are his comparisons of similar species and his comprehensive and easy-to-use key. Superb photographs by Suzanne Collins make this guide the perfect companion for hikes in all kinds of environments whenever a snake ripples across your path or a lizard darts into the underbrush.

$9.95

Copyright © 2010 by the University of Iowa Press Printed in the U.S.A. www.uiowapress.org Manufactured by ProGuidez, Inc. Licensed under U.S. Patent N429 and 6,063,227; Mexican Model Reg. No. 10,020; Canadian Industrial Design Reg. No. 76,725