An adult Prairie Lizard from Clark County. Image by Lisa Wehrly.
An adult Slender Glass Lizard from Comanche County. © Maci Loughrea.
An adult female Chihuahuan Green Toad from Wallace County, Kansas. © Travis W. Taggart.
An adult Common Gartersnake from Lincoln County, Kansas. © Kevin Urbanek.
An adult Eastern Milksnake from Franklin County. Image © Suzanne L. Collins, CNAH.
A juvenile Plain-bellied Watersnake (left) and a juvenile Common Watersnake (right) from Crawford County. © Suzanne L. Collins, CNAH.
An adult Common Lesser Earless Lizard from Chase County, Kansas. © Justin Michels.
An adult Alligator Snapping Turtle from Montgomery County, Kansas (KU 204668). Image © Suzanne L. Collins, CNAH.
An adult Western Wormsnake from Johnson County. © Jason Burns.
An adult male Common Five-lined Skink from Wyandotte County, Kansas. Image by Craig Hensley (iNat record #41459816).
Welcome to the Kansas Herpetofaunal Atlas (KHA)
The Kansas Herpetofaunal Atlas (KHA) was inspired by, and is dedicated to, Joseph T. Collins. His legacy lies not only in the vast knowledge he accumulated through decades of fieldwork, library research, and museum study, but also in his ability to synthesize and share that information with a broad audience—as only he could.
The KHA began in spring 1999 as a small web-based project to document the state’s amphibian and reptile diversity. A 2003 State Wildlife Grant (USFWS/KDWPT/Sternberg Museum joint venture) provided resources for significant site enhancements and a major increase in specimen occurrence records. Additional support has come from the Center for North American Herpetology, the Kansas Herpetological Society, and numerous individual volunteers.
Purpose and Content
The Atlas compiles occurrence records, some dating back to the 1830s, to establish a baseline for research, inform conservation needs, and increase public awareness of Kansas amphibians and reptiles. It contains:
- The most current distribution maps for each species known (or potentially occurring) in Kansas.
- Species accounts that summarize description, distribution, natural history, taxonomy, and an expanding bibliography.
- A continually growing dataset, now exceeding 103,000 specimen occurrences and 3,200 references.
Living Project
The KHA is updated daily and remains a work in progress. It is not intended as the “final word,” but as a dynamic reference that sparks questions and encourages further research. As new discoveries are made, the Atlas incorporates them, ensuring it remains the most comprehensive resource on Kansas herpetology.
The Kansas Herpetofauna
Kansas supports 102 established species of amphibians and reptiles:
- 22 frogs,
- 9 salamanders,
- 42 snakes (Squamata),
- 15 others lizards (Squamata) (3 of which are established exotic species), and
- 14 turtles.
Only five species occur statewide: American Bullfrog, Gophersnake, North American Racer, Ornate Box Turtle, and Snapping Turtle. Most others are restricted by environmental variables such as temperature, precipitation, geology, and species interactions. Biodiversity increases to the south and east; for example, Cherokee County (southeast) has 79 species, while Cheyenne County (northwest) has only 32.
A Collaborative Effort
The KHA represents the work of thousands of individuals whose collections, records, and publications shaped our current understanding of Kansas herpetofauna. While this region is among the best-documented in the world, much remains to be learned. Contributions of specimens or observations are always welcome and will help expand the Atlas further.
I hope you find the KHA useful, and we welcome your comments and suggestions.
 |  | Travis W. Taggart
Research Associate
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Fort Hays State University
twtaggart@fhsu.edu |