A medium-sized garter snake. Highly variable in coloration across range.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Garter snake is the common name for small to medium-sized snakes belonging to the genus Thamnophis in the family Colubridae. They are native to North and Central America, ranging from central Canada in the north to Costa Rica in the south.
Source: Wikipedia — Garter snake Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Slender brown to gray-olive snake with three yellow stripes (one dorsal, two lateral); some populations strongly patterned.
Similar species. Other Thamnophis species (multiple US species).
Voice. Hisses; releases musk.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Frogs, small fish, small mammals, lizards.
Behavior. Common western garter snake. Highly variable across range.
§ Range
Western North America
§ Habitat
Diverse habitats
§ Threats
Habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the western garter snake is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Don't kill snakes.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Garter snake
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Thamnophis elegans
- IUCN Red List · taxon 63930
- iNaturalist · taxon 29377
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Thamnophis elegans
§ Sources cited
- Davidson College Department of Biology
- IUCN Red List 2007
