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Pipestone National Monument
Reptiles
Snapping turtle crossing the road
NPS, G. Wagner
Snapping turtle crossing the road

Only a few species of reptiles occur within Pipestone National Monument. Turtles enjoy the waters of Pipestone Creek and the ephemeral ponds that occur throughout the prairie. Garter snakes and skinks prefer the Sioux quartzite prairie. The following reptiles have been recorded within Pipestone National Monument:

 

Family
Common Name                         Scientific name

Snapping Turtles (Chelydridae)
Common Snapping Turtle  Chelydra serpentina
Pond, Marsh, and Box Turtles (Emydidae)
Western Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta
Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae)
Western Plains Garter Snake Thamnophis sp.
Skinks (Scincidae)
Northern Prairie Skink Eumeces spetentrionalis
Western Prairie Fringed Orchid  

Did You Know?
Two species listed under the Endangered Species Act are found at Pipestone National Monument: the Topeka shiner and the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid.

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Last Updated: July 28, 2006 at 11:43 EST