Ontario Herps
Field Guide
We have compiled a list of all Ontario amphibians & reptiles (aka herps) on this page. Additionally, species-at-risk are identified along with their current assessment status by COSEWIC (as of May 2023). Status categories are as follows: “Not at risk” (NAR), “Data Deficient” (DD), “Special Concern” (SC), “Threatened” (T), “Endangered’ (E), “Extirpated” (XT), and “Extinct” (X). Species which have not been assessed yet are labeled as “NA”.
Ontario's Snakes
Dekay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi), NAR
Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi), Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population (T), Carolinian population (E)
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos), T
Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), NA
Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus), SC
Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides), Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population (T), Carolinian population (E)
Lake Erie Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon insularum), SC
Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus), Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population (T), Carolinian population (E)
Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum), SC
Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon), NAR
Red-bellied snake (Storeria occipitomaculata), NA
Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis), NA
Blue Racer (Coluber contrictor foxii), E
Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri), E
Queensnake (Regina septemvittata), E
Ontario's Turtles
Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), E
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina), XT
Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), SC
Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata), SC
Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica), SC
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), SC
Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera), E
Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata), E
Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta), E
Ontario's only Lizard
Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population (SC), Carolinian population (E)
The five-lined skink is divided into two populations in Ontario. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence population is classified as “Special Concern”, while the Carolinian population is classified as “Endangered”.Â
Ontario's Frogs & Toads
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), NA
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus), NA
Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri), E
Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor), NA
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans), NA
Mink Frog (Lithobates septentrionalis), NA
Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans), XT
Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens), NAR
Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris), NAR
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer), NA
Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata), NA
Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvatica), NA
Ontario's Salamanders
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus), E
Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale), NA
Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), NA
Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum), NAR
Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum), E
Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus), NAR
Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus), E
Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum), E
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), NA
Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens), adult stage (left), juvenile stage (right), NA
Northern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata), NA