When you purchase through links on our site , we may take in an affiliate mission . Here ’s how it solve .
Garter snakes are among the most coarse Snake River in North America , with a range span from Canada to Florida . Often kept as pet , they are comparatively harmless , although some species do own a mild neurotoxic venom . However , it is not serious to humans .
Where did the supporter snake get its funny name ? allot to Doug Wechsler , a wildlife biologist at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia and author of " Garter Snakes " ( Powerkids , 2001 ) , their stripes resemble garters work force used to wear to hold up their sock . Another hypothesis is that it is a corruption of the German word for “ garden . ” Garter snakes are sometimes mistakenly called " garden snakes . "
It’s no secret that snakes shed their skin. Here, a common garter snake mugs for the camera.
Physical characteristics
Garter snakes come in a wide variety of colour depend on the species , but “ most have three longitudinal stripe — one in the heart and soul of the back and one on each humbled side of the body , " harmonize to herpetologist Jeff Beane , accumulation director of amphibious aircraft and reptiles at theNorth Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences . " In most coinage , the stripes are yellowish or dark-green , but this vary with species and part . ”
Some supporter Snake have intricate splotchy pattern between their stripes , making them look checkered . And their appearance really does depend on the species — Beane pointed out that some garter snake are “ well-nigh stripeless . ”
Garter snake in the grass are relatively minor , usually between 23 and 30 inches ( 58 and 76 cm ) , though sometimes growing as long as 5 feet ( 1.5 meters ) . Beane describe them as “ slim to middling hardy - bodied … [ with scales that are ] obviously keel , ” meaning they have a rooftree down the shopping center . He added that many species of supporter snake have two - colored tongues .
These non-venomous snakes are the most common reptile in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park. They live near water and eat small rodents as well as tadpoles, snails and leeches.
Habitat
Beane discover garter snakes as " generalists , inhabiting a wide-cut variety of home ground . " They exist in woodlands , meadows and grassy hammock and like to be near water , especially " in the arid parts of the West , " Beane said .
The common supporter snake occurs throughout North America , from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and into southerly Canada , accord to theVirtual Nature Trailat Pennsylvania State University New Kensington .
The supporter ophidian is abundant in the eastern United States ; it is thestate reptilian of Massachusetts . While no snakes are known to be native of Alaska , a route - killed specimen of a supporter snake was find near Haines , Alaska , in 2005 , according to an article in theJournal of Herpetology . Researchers who identified the snake through mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid conclude that the single Hydra represented a relict , or remnant , population , a recent natural colonization or a fresh introduction .
Habits
Garter snakes are generally active during the daytime . Beane described them as “ relatively fast - move [ and ] highly planetary , but [ some ] may climb into shrub or vine ; some metal money climb more than others . ”Wildscreen ’s ARKive Initiativepointed out that some species are also fantabulous swimmer .
When threatened , supporter Snake River give off a badly - smelling musk . Because of their small size of it , supporter Hydra have many predators , including hawks , crows , bears , bullfrogs , snapping turtle , foxes , squirrels and raccoons , according to theAnimal Diversity Web(ADW ) , a database maintained by the University of Michigan ’s Museum of Zoology .
insensate - mood garter snakes hibernate during the winter . They hole up in den in large groups , with hundreds of garter snakes sometimes come up together ( and sometimes other snake species , according to Beane ) . According to the Virtual Nature Trail , one hideaway in Canada was the hibernation spot of more than 8,000 Snake River . Garter snakes will journey long distance to a communal den for hibernation , according to the ADW .
Diet
Beane said that garter serpent “ feed mostly on fish , amphibians , and earthworms ; other prey are now and again taken . ” The snake immobilize their target with their sharp teeth and quick reflexes . The spit of some species contain a mild neurolysin that causes palsy , stool small prey well-heeled to swallow up . Like other Hydra , garter snakes get down their food whole , according to the ADW . Beane tell “ some larger target may be drag out and masticate until killed by trauma . ”
Bite
While most metal money are classified as harmless ( non - venomous ) , their bit can do minor gibbosity or itching in humans , and anyone bitten by a garter ophidian should clean the bite exhaustively . It is not ultimately a cause for concern . Allergic reactions to the saliva have been known , but cases are extremely rare , agree to the ADW .
Reproduction
fit in to Beane , the best situations for sexual union are “ when they emerge [ from hibernation ] in the fountain and also when they congregate again in fall … because they are already gather together for hibernation and do not have to waste zip seek first mate . ” But for garter Snake in more temperate areas where they do n’t hibernate , the ophidian trust on pheromones .
Female supporter Snake give off pheromones to attract males . lots of males will descend to one female person , which is why homeowner sometimes intend garter serpent areoverrunning their neighborhood . allot to the biology department atReed College , this mass of pair snakes is called a “ mating ball . ”
Some males expend trickery to confuse their contest , according to Reed College . They will release female pheromones to entice other males toward them rather than to the female person . After the other males are away from the mating ball , the Male amaze as females will shoot back to the female to attempt to copulate . [ Related : Estrogen Turns Male Snakes Into Same - Sex Charmers ]
Garter Snake River are ovoviviparous , meaning they bear live unseasoned . After pairing , female shop sperm in their bodies until they require to fertilize their eggs . Garter snake in the grass give nascence to 20 to 40 hot young at a time , though Beane pointed out that bedding material sizes can variegate greatly . “ As few as five and as many as 101 have been reported , ” he say . Parent Snake do not care for their immature .
Taxonomy/classification
There are 30 specie of garter snake in the grass and many more subspecies , according to theIntegrated Taxonomic Information System . The taxonomy of garter snakes is :
Kingdom : AnimaliaSubkingdom : BilateriaInfrakingdom : DeuterostomiaPhylum : ChordataSubphylum : VertebrataInfraphylum : GnathostomataSuperclass : TetrapodaClass : ReptiliaOrder : SquamataSuborder : SerpentesInfraorder : AlethinophidiaFamily : ColubridaeSubfamily : NatricinaeGenus : Thamnophis
Species: 30, including:
Thamnophis sirtalis(common garter snake in the grass ): The common garter serpent has the largest range , occurring in most of the continental United States with several subspecies , allot to Beane . They are found everywhere from Alaska to Florida , though they do not live in the Southwest . unwashed garter snakes usually have three white , yellowed , blue , or green chevron running the lengths of their brownish or olive bodies . Their heads are dark than their bodies .
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis(Eastern garter snake ): This subspecies of common garter snake is typical throughout the easterly United States . Though its soundbox color may vary from browned to green , it almost always has three xanthous stripes on its back , according to theSavannah River Ecology Laboratory . Sometimes its consistence is splotchy , giving it a turn back appearance . easterly garter snakes in Georgia and Florida sometimes have blueish colouring .
Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis(red - sided supporter Snake River ): This California subspecies of plebeian supporter snake can be stunning . Blue or yellow grade insignia soda water against the dark olive or black eubstance , and flushed bars draw the side of the trunk . The blood-red - sided garter snake has a red or orange principal and a patrician bottom . North of the San Francisco Bay Area , the bottom is sometimes a brilliant bright blue . Its eyes are large than other garter serpent species . agree toCalifornia Herps , it is able to use up Pacific newts , which are poisonous to other predators .
Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia(San Francisco garter snake):According toCalifornia Herps , this San Francisco peninsula ophidian has a red head , enceinte eyes , and wide , blue - green , black-market , and ruddy bar . Its bottom is dark - green . Like the red - sided supporter snake , it eat Pacific newts .
Thamnophis marcianus ( Checkered garter snake ): This small , southwestern snake has a non-white checkered design over its entire body , plus three fragile promiscuous - colored stripes , consort toHerps of Texas . It is seldom longer than 2 feet .
Thamnophis sirtalis annectens(Texas garter snake ): This common supporter snake in the grass race in the main resides in the Lone Star State , though according toWildlife North America , there is a population in Kansas . It has a dour discolor back with a bright red banding down its center and two light - color chevron on its sides .
Conservation status
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature’sRed List of Threatened Specieslists coarse garter snakes as " least concern " for threat of extinction , mark their all-inclusive chain and population size , estimated to be more than 1 million adults in the natural state .
TheU.S. Pisces the Fishes and Wildlife Servicelists the San Francisco garter snake is listed as " scupper " because it is threaten by habitat red and over - collection .
Additional resources
