A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

California's Reptile and Amphibian Diversity

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According to my count, as of February 2025, at least 259 forms of reptiles and amphibians can be found established in the wild in California including 231 native forms, including 76 endemics (found only in California), and 28 documented established alien species. (There are a few more of these which I plan to add soon). 4 Species once present are now considered extinct in the state.

"Forms" includes subspecies.
(If a species is divided into several subspecies and 3 subspecies are found in California, then that counts as 3 forms of 1 species.)

(Go here to see a list of currently undescribed herps and some that could occur in California. Some of these will be added to this list in the future.)

Taxonomy is always changing so these totals will continually change with the discovery of new native or alien species and subspecies, or with the re-classification of the currently-recognized species and subspecies. I will keep updating this list as changes happen.

Reptiles and Amphibians Currently Established in California				More counts already included in the main count on the left
	Native Species and Subspecies	Established Non-native Species (Does not include non-native species not yet documented as established.)	Total Native and Non-native Species and Subspecies	Native Species Only (not subspecies) (Not including species now probably extinct in California.)	Endemic Forms	(Probably Extinct Forms) (These are found on my state lists but probably no longer can be found in the state so they were not counted in the totals.)
Snakes	73	3	76	46	14
Lizards	69	14	83	49	20
Salamanders	56	1	57	49	38
Frogs and Toads	25	5	30	24	4	(3)
Turtles	8	5	12	8	0	(1)
Totals	231 Forms	28 Non-natives	259 Total	176 Species	76 Endemics	(4) Extinct

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