Reptile Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/species-type/reptile/ A digital archive of treaties, documents, artwork, and 360° trail panoramas from the Corps of Discovery Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:44:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Prairie Rattlesnake https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/prairie-rattlesnake/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:37 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/prairie-rattlesnake/ Lewis and Clark first encountered the prairie rattlesnake on April 26, 1805, at the mouth of the Yellowstone River, where several were spotted during a hike up the Yellowstone. This was a species new to...

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]]> Lewis awoke from a nap under a tree to find a prairie rattlesnake coiled a few feet away on the tree’s leaning trunk.

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]]> Bullsnake https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/bullsnake/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:37 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/bullsnake/ Lewis and Clark killed and described a bullsnake on August 5, 1804, on the bank of the Missouri River in present-day Harrison County, Iowa. Lewis noted it had no poison teeth and described its characteristic...

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]]> Lewis and Clark killed and described a bullsnake on August 5, 1804, on the bank of the Missouri River in present-day Harrison County, Iowa. Lewis noted it had no poison teeth and described its characteristic bellowing sound, explaining that it was “called the cow or bull snake from a bellowing nois which it is said sometimes to make resembling that anamal.” This large, nonvenomous constrictor was well known to frontier settlers but poorly documented scientifically.

Journal Excerpt

Lewis, August 5, 1804: "Killed a serpent on the bank of the river adjoining a large prarie… it had no poison teeth and therefore think him perfectly inocent; it is called the cow or bull snake from a bellowing nois which it is said sometimes to make resembling that anamal, tho' as to this fact I am unable to attest it never having heard them make that or any other nois myself."

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]]> Greater Short-horned Lizard https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/greater-short-horned-lizard/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:37 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/greater-short-horned-lizard/ Lewis and Clark encountered the short-horned lizard (which they called "horned toad" or "horned lizard") in present-day Missouri as early as May 1804. One specimen was collected and sent back to President Jefferson with other...

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]]> Lewis and Clark encountered the short-horned lizard (which they called “horned toad” or “horned lizard”) in present-day Missouri as early as May 1804. One specimen was collected and sent back to President Jefferson with other natural history specimens on the keelboat in April 1805. This small, flat-bodied lizard with crown-like horns on its head was new to science and fascinated naturalists in the East.

Journal Excerpt

Lewis, May 31, 1804: "one of the men caught a large lizard… the body was flat and covered with horny scales, the head armed with short pointed spines like those of the horned snake. it appeared to be perfectly harmless."

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]]> Pacific Tree Frog https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/pacific-tree-frog/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:37 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/pacific-tree-frog/ Lewis and Clark encountered the Pacific tree frog in the Pacific Northwest during their winter at Fort Clatsop in 1805-1806. This small frog, distinctive for its loud "ribbit" call, is the most commonly heard frog...

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]]> Common and widespread, Pacific treefrogs may be heard calling even in developed areas with suitable moist habitats.

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]]> Western Toad https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/western-toad/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:52:37 +0000 https://research.lewisandclarktrust.org/wildlife/western-toad/ Lewis and Clark described the western toad during their expedition through the Pacific Northwest. This large toad, which can reach 5 inches in length, is found from Alaska to Baja California. Lewis noted its distinctive...

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]]> Lewis and Clark described the western toad during their expedition through the Pacific Northwest. This large toad, which can reach 5 inches in length, is found from Alaska to Baja California. Lewis noted its distinctive white dorsal stripe and warty skin, comparing it to eastern toads but noting differences in coloration.

Journal Excerpt

Lewis, April 10, 1806: "observed a species of toad common to this region… it is considerably larger than the common toad of the Atlantic states and differs in colouring being of a dark olive green with a light streak running along the center of the back."

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