Those that do remain, like the San Pedro River and Ramsey Creek, are rare refuges for amphibians. In fact, one of the rarest amphibian species on Earth is the Ramsey Canyon leopard frog, which is found only in and around Ramsey Canyon. Reptiles, which include lizards, snakes, crocodiles, and turtles and tortoises, are also vertebrates, but scales cover their bodies and they aren't dependent on water. In the Upper San Pedro River Basin, reptiles occupy every habitat from low deserts to mountain tops, including trees, rocks, holes, and thick grasses. The basin is particularly rich in snakes and lizards, which play important roles in the ecosystem.
Many lizards are insect eaters, for instance, and so help keep insect populations in check.
Many lizards are also important food sources for snakes, as well as birds like the roadrunner. Snakes, like lizards, frighten many people, but they're crucial to the health of the ecosystem. Kingsnakes, for instance, eat other snakes, including rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes, in turn, eat rodents, thereby helping to control rodent populations, the potential diseases they may carry, and the damage they can cause. Learning about reptiles and amphibians can help correct myths about them and help us feel more comfortable around them.