Reptiles

Lizards found in the park such as the short-horned lizard are small in size.

NPS Photo / Laura Thomas

When thinking of desert animals, reptiles often come to mind first. 13 species of reptiles (seven snakes and six lizards) are found at Craters of the Moon. Although often not appreciated and sometimes feared, they play an important role in the high desert ecosystem. Both lizards and snakes help control insect and rodent populations and also serve as potential meals for birds, mammals, and larger reptiles.

All reptiles are cold-blooded, or “ectothermic,” regulating body temperature through its environment rather than internally. A reptile’s metabolic rate is very low, but so are its energy needs. Since keeping warm in the desert does not require much work, reptiles are well adapted to this environment. The little energy they do generate can be used for reproduction and finding food instead of heating and cooling. Of course, there are limitations to this type of adaptation. Since they cannot pant or sweat, reptiles are not able to endure extremely high temperatures without shade. They also cannot endure freezing temperatures. When it is cold, they hibernate or become inactive.

Summer visitors to Craters of the Moon can see lizards from many of the trails. Reptiles are the most active once the sun heats the black basalt and increases their body temperatures. They are usually visible sunbathing on rocks or chasing insects with their lightning-quick reflexes. Lizards found here include two species of horned lizard, the sagebrush lizard, and the Western skink.

Most of the snakes found at Craters of the Moon are harmless and nocturnal. The Western or prairie rattlesnake is rarely seen and mostly active at night. Although venomous, these snakes are not aggressive and usually avoid confrontation if given plenty of space. Gopher snakes are the most common snake seen in the park and are often mistaken for rattlesnakes due to their similar appearance. Both young and adult gopher snakes will mimic rattlesnake behavior when threatened. This even includes vibrating their tails in dead leaves to create a rattling noise.

As with all park wildlife, remember to respect an animal's space and appreciate them from a distance. Do not handle wildlife.

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

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Species attribute definitions

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