Thirty species of reptiles have been recorded in the US state of Minnesota, including 16 species of snakes, eleven species of turtle, and three species of lizard. Of those 31 species, two (Blanding's turtle and the wood turtle) have been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with another 20 listed as least concern and nine have not been evaluated.
Minnesota does not have an official state reptile. However, the Blanding's turtle was proposed as the reptile of the state in 1998 and 1999.
Snakes Common nameScientific nameConservation statusDescriptionPhotographEastern yellowbelly racerColuber constrictor flaviventris Not evaluatedNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from olive to blue to nearly blackRingneck snakeDiadophis punctatus Least concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; has a distinct yellow ring around the neck; color varies from slate gray to oliveWestern rat snakePantherophis obsoletus Not evaluatedNonvenomous; adults reach ; adults appear shiny black; underbellies are white with black mottlesWestern fox snakePantherophis ramspottiLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from tan to greenish brown with large black blotchesWestern hognose snakeHeterodon nasicusLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from light yellow or olive color with systematic brown blotchesEastern hognose snakeHeterodon platyrhinosLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from gray to brown with dark brown markingsEastern milk snakeLamptopeltis triangulum triangulumNot evaluatedNonvenomous; adults reach ; repeating red, black-outlined blotchesSmooth green snakeOpheodrys vernalis (sometimes Liochlorophis vernalis)Not evaluatedNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from a uniform bright green to brownish greenNorthern water snakeNerodia sipedonLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from gray to reddish brown with dark brown crossbandsBullsnakePituophis catenifer sayiNot evaluatedNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from tan to brown with large brown or black spotsDeKay's brown snakeStoreria dekayiLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from brown to reddish brown; two rows of dark spots across the backNorthern redbelly snakeStoreria occipitomaculataLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from gray-brown to reddish-brownPlains garter snakeThamnophis radixLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; similar to other garter snakes but with a yellow stripe down the sideEastern garter snakeThamnophis sirtalisLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; color varies from black to olive; usually has three yellowish stripes, one down the back and one along each sideLined snakeTropidoclonion lineatumLeast concernNonvenomous; adults reach ; colors range from gray to black with a lighter color stripe down the middle of the backTimber rattlesnakeCrotalus horridusLeast concernVenomous; adults reach ; color varies from yellow to tan with dark markings on the back
Turtles Common nameScientific nameConservation statusDescriptionPhotograph Blanding's turtle Emydoidea blandingii EndangeredLength of ; yellow, long, narrow throat; domed carapace Common snapping turtle Chelydra serpentinaLeast concernLength of ; weight of ; shell color varies from tan to black Common musk turtleSternotherus odoratusLeast concern introduced Smooth softshell turtleApalone muticaLeast concern Red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegansLeast concern Introduced False map turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica Least concernLength of ; upper shell has yellow connected circles or lines; lower shell is greenish-yellow Northern map turtle Graptemys geographicaLeast concernLength of ; fine yellow lines on a brown to olive shell Ouachita map turtle Graptemys ouachitensisLeast concernLength of ; ridge down the center of the shell; bright yellow lines on the head and limbs Painted turtle Chrysemys picta belliiLeast concernLength of ; carapace color varies from tan to olive, with markings on the neckSpiny softshell turtle Apalone spinifera spiniferaNot evaluatedFemale length of ; male length of ; olive to brown, flexible, smooth shell Wood turtle Glyptemys insculpta (formerly Clemmys insculpta) EndangeredLength of ; rough, tan to gray carapace
Lizards Common nameScientific nameStatusDescriptionPhotograph Five-lined skink Plestiodon fasciatusLeast concernTotal length of ; maximum body length of ; brown to black body with short legs; juveniles have a blueish tail that turns to grey with maturation Prairie skink Plestiodon septentrionalisLeast concernMaximum body length of ; juveniles are blue, adults are tan with black stripes Six-lined racerunner Aspidoscelis sexlineatusLeast concernTotal length of ; maximum body length of ; light yellow to white stripes alternating with black stripes down back
Notes Total length refers to the total length of the lizard. Maximum body length is the measurement from snout to cloaca of the lizard.
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