Reptiles of the San Marcos Foothills

Back to Animals of the San Marcos Foothills

Thirteen species of reptiles have been documented to occur at the San Marcos Foothills. An additional five species are likely present on the Preserve but have not yet been documented in biological surveys.

Native Reptilian Species Seen or Expected to Occur at the San Marcos Foothills:

Alligator lizard
Elgaria multicarinata

**Photo © Aamonn O'Brien-Strain.** **Used under license**

Southern California Legless Lizard
Anniella stebbinsi

Side-blotched lizard
Uta stansburiana

Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis

Western Skink
Plestiodon skiltonianus

**Photo © Ken-ichi Ueda.** **Used under license**

California Striped Racer
Coluber lateralis ssp. lateralis

**Photo © Bill Bouton** **Used under license**

California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae

**Photo © Maury Duchamp** **Used under license**

Monterey ring-necked
Diadophis punctatus ssp. vandenburghi

**Observed by Alan Prichard 1/16 trail crossing Cieneguitas Creek Photo © venomdoc** **Used under license**

San Diego gopher snake
Pituophis catenifer ssp. annectens

Southern Pacific rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus ssp. helleri

**Photo © Ken Owen (photo from San Marcos Foothills)**

Western terrestrial garter snake
Thamnophis elegans

**Photo © J. N. Stuart** **Used under license**

Blainville's (Coast) horned lizard
Phrynosoma blainvillii

**Photo © danaxyruspalmeri** **Used under license**

California whiptail
Aspidoscelis tigris ssp. mundus

California red-sided garter snake
Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. infernalis

**Photo © R.J. Adams (2011). Used with permission**

California Mountain kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata

**Photo © J. Maughn** **Used under license**

Two-striped garter snake
Thamnophis hammondii

Western Yellow-bellied Racer
Coluber constrictor ssp. mormon

Spotted Night Snake
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus

Documented:

Lizards
Alligator lizard
Side-blotched lizard
Western fence lizard
Western skink
Southern California Legless Lizard

Snakes
California striped racer
Common kingsnake
Monterey ring-necked
San Diego gopher snake
Southern Pacific rattlesnake
Western terrestrial garter snake
Two-striped garter snake
Spotted Night Snake

Expected to Occur (but not yet documented):

Lizards
Blainville's (Coast) horned lizard
California whiptail

Snakes

California Mountain kingsnake
California red-sided garter snake
Western Yellow-bellied Racer