Our Cold-Blooded Friends

The three major groups of reptiles found in the park are: snakes, turtles and lizards. While not the most numerous species in the park they do make up part of the biosphere and they are an important part of the environment and the food chain.

Snakes
First things first, only 2 of the 24 species of snake in the park are poisonous (Northern Copperhead & Timber Rattlesnake). In the 75 years that the park has been in existence there have not been any human fatalities due to snake bite. Snakes are a vital part of the ecosystem. They help maintain the vermin in the park and they are food for other animals as well like the owls and falcons that call the park home.

24 Snake Species of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

eastern worm snake	northern scarlet snake	northern black racer
northern ringneck snake	corn snake	black rat snake
eastern hognose snake	mole kingsnake	eastern kingsnake
black kingsnake	eastern earth snake	scarlet kingsnake
eastern milk snake	northern water snake	rough green snake
northern pine snake	queen snake	northern brown snake
midland brown snake	northern redbelly snake	southeastern crowned snake
eastern garter snake	timber rattlesnake	northern copperhead

Turtles
Turtles bring their home with them when they travel. Enclosed in a shell, most turtles live in or near the water, feeding on vegetation, insects and small water animals. Turtles lay eggs and though they are largely an aquatic animal they lay these eggs on land. There are eight species of turtle that call the Smokies home. One of the most common is the eastern box turtle.

8 Turtle Species of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

snapping turtle	eastern painted turtle	common map turtle
eastern box turtle	stripeneck musk turtle	eastern spiny softshell
Stinkpot	Cumberland slider

Lizards
Lizards being coldblooded inhabit the lower elevations of the national park appreciating the heat and the drier conditions. There are nine species of lizard in the park. Feeding on insects mostly, these animals keep the insect population low and contribute to the food chain themselves with some lager predators.

9 Lizard Species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

eastern slender glass lizard	northern fence lizard	northern green anole
coal skink	five-lined skink	southeastern five-lined skink
broadhead skink	ground skink	six-lined racerunner