The Reptiles AND AMPHIBIANS
of the Black Range
(Follow Link to Checklist and References)

Anaxyrus punctatus
Red-spotted Toad
San Lorenzo
Black Range
New Mexico

Aspidoscelis exsanguis
(Cnemidophorus exsanguis)
Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail
Gila Wilderness & East of Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico

Aspidoscelis inornata llanuras
Little (Plains) Striped Whiptail
East of Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico

Aspidoscelis neomexicana
(Cnemidophorus neomexicana)
New Mexico Whiptail
Gila Wilderness
Black Range
New Mexico

Aspidoscelis tesselatusaka
(Cnemidophorus tesselatusaka)
Common Checkered Whiptail
Black Peak
East of Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico

Aspidoscelis uniparens
Desert Grasslands Whiptail
Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico

Cophosaurus texanus scitulus
(Chihuahuan) Greater Earless Lizard
Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico
View Video

Crotalus atrox
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
East of Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico
View Video 1
View Video 2

Crotalus molossus
(Northern) Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Gila Cliff Dwellings
New Mexico
View Video

Crotalus ornatus
Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake
Andrews
Black Range
New Mexico
December

Elgaria kingii nobilis
Madrean Alligator Lizard
Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico
View Video 1
View Video 2

Gambelia wislizenii
Lizard, Long-nosed Leopard
Cooke's Spring
Frying Pan Spring
Luna County
New Mexico

Including its tail, which can be as long as the rest of its body, the Long-nosed Leopard Lizard is about 10 inches long. That makes it one of the larger lizards in the Black Range, an advantage for it since it eats (among other things) other lizards. This species was previously known as Crotaphytus wislizenii (Baird & Girard, 1852), Crotaphytus gambelii, Crotaphytus fasciatus, Leiosaurus halloweii, and Crotaphytus fasciolatus. The type specimen was from around Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its range extends from inland Oregon and Idaho in the north south to Zacatecas. It often jumps to catch its prey, sometimes as much as two feet.

Gopherus flavomarginatus
Bolson Tortoise
Armendaris Ranch
New Mexico
August

Hyla arenicolor
(Dryophytes a.)
Canyon Treefrog
Middle Fork of Percha Creek East of Kingston
& Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico
July

Lithobates (Rana) catesbeianus
American Bullfrog
Gila Wilderness
& Caballo S.P.
New Mexico
View Video

Metamorphosis of the tadpole into an adult frog takes from several months in the southern part of its range to up to three years in the northern part of its range.

Masticophis (Coluber) t. taeniatus
Desert Striped Whipsnake
East of Hillsboro (Andrews & Percha Box)
Black Range
New Mexico
August

This species is found in the western United States and northern Mexico, often near rocky streams (permanent/intermittent). Diurnal, very fast, nonvenomous. Feeds on other reptiles/amphibians, mammals, insects, birds…. First described by Edward Hallowell in 1852, as Leptophis taeniata. Other Common English names included Striped Whipsnake, there are many scientific synonyms, the prominent being Coluber t. taeniatus (Henry Sheldon Fitch, 1936), for this subspecies. There are several subspecies of Masticophis some of which are considered full species by The Reptile Database and other sources. The type specimen was taken in “New Mexico, west of the Rio Grande”.

Phrynosoma cornutum
Texas Horned Lizard
NM-27 South of Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico

Phrynosoma hernandesi
Greater Short-Horned Lizard
Hillsboro Peak Trail, Gallinas Canyon, and Carbonate Creek
Black Range
New Mexico

Pituophis catenifer affinis
Sonoran Gopher Snake
Warm Springs Wash
East of Hillsboro
& Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico

Plestiodon obsoletus
Great Plains Skink
Hillsboro
New Mexico
June

Salvadora grahamiae
Mountain Patchnose Snake
Bloodgood Spring
South of Kingston
Black Range
New Mexico
July

Sceleoporus bimaculosus
Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard
Bloodgood Spring
South of Kingston
Black Range
July

Sceloporus clarkii clarkii
Clark's Spiny Lizard
(ssp known as Sonoran Spiny Lizard)
Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico

Sceloporus cowlesi
Southwestern Fence Lizard
Gallinas Canyon
Black Range
New Mexico

Sceloporus poinsettii
Crevice Spiny Lizard
Hillsboro Peak Trail
Black Range
New Mexico
September

Spea multiplicata
New Mexico Spadefoot Toad
Middle Fork of Percha Creek
East of Kingston
& Hillsboro
Black Range
New Mexico
July

Terrapene ornata luteola
Western (Ornate) Box Turtle
Black Range
New Mexico

Thamnophis c. cyrtopsis
Blackneck Garter Snake
Middle Percha
East of Kingston
Black Range
July

This species is found in the southwestern United States southward to Guatemala. Although found in a variety of habitats it is generally near water. Synonyms including T. eques have been used for this species in the past, that scientific name is now reserved for the Mexican Garter Snake.

Thamnophis elegans
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Near Wright's Cabin
Black Range
New Mexico

Urosaurus ornatus schottii
Ornate Tree Lizard
Hillsboro &
Railroad Canyon
Black Range
New Mexico