Incidental Encounters–Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama

As one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, our native reptiles and amphibians are a testament to the unique beauty and wildness of Alabama. Our state is the home of the world’s largest diversity of freshwater turtles, even more than the Amazon! We also boast several endemic species, including the Black Warrior waterdog and the Red Hills salamander. All of our native species (like the birds) are important and worth protecting. We feel that the more you know about your cold-blooded neighbors, the more interesting and beautiful you will find them.

Join Scott and Leah for an exploration of Alabama’s rich diversity of reptiles and amphibians, including a focus on common species, endemics, charismatics, and venomous. We will also discover a little about the evolutionary and ecological associations between birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Our focus is to help you understand a little more about the salamanders, frogs, alligators, turtles, lizards, and snakes you may encounter while birdwatching. We love our cold-blooded neighbors, and we bet you will too.