About the Trip Biodiversity of Canada and Alaska History and Culture Video and Photo Alaska and Canada Contact us / Support Page
  • About the Ecosystems along the way
  • Plants and Fungi (Mosses, Ferns, Conifers, Angiosperms and more)
  • Animals (Mammals, Birds, Fish, Invertebrates)

Reptiles

There are approximately 6,000-recorded species of reptiles in the world. In the Northwest where our trip will be traversing there are only about 8 species that we could encounter. Part of the reason for this is the inability of reptiles to efficiently regulate their body temperatures. In the long, cold winters, only the hardiest species are able to survive. We have recorded four species of snakes, one pond turtle, an alligator lizard and two marine turtles.

Alligator Lizards (Family Anguidae)

  • Northern Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus coeruleus)

Pond Turtles
Famly Emydidae

  • Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

Snakes (Family Colubridae)

  • Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
  • Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans)
  • Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides)
  • Sharptail snake (Contia tenuis)

SEA TURTLES

  • Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)
  • Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Back to