Common garter snake

Common garter snake
Eastern garter snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species:
T. sirtalis
Binomial name
Thamnophis sirtalis
Subspecies

12 sspp., see text

  Range of T. s. pickeringii
  Range of T. s. fitchi
  Range of T. s. concinnus
  Range of T. s. infernalis
  Range of T. s. tetrataenia
  Range of T. s. parietalis
  Range of T. s. dorsalis
  Range of T. s. annectens
  Range of T. s. sirtalis
  Range of T. s. pallidulus
  Range of T. s. semifasciatus
  Range of T. s. similis
  Range of Intergrade zones
Synonyms
  • Coluber sirtalis
    Linnaeus, 1758
  • Tropidonotus sirtalis
    — Holbrook, 1842
  • Tropidonotus ordinatus
    — Holbrook, 1842
  • Eutainia sirtalis
    — Baird & Girard, 1853
  • Eutænia sirtalis
    — Cope, 1875
  • Thamnophis sirtalis
    — Garman, 1892

The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to North America and found widely across the continent. There are several recognized subspecies. Most common garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a black, brown or green background, and their average total length (including tail) is about 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of about 137 cm (54 in).[2][3] The average body mass is 150 g (5.3 oz).[4] The common garter snake is the state reptile of Massachusetts.[5]

  1. ^ Frost DR, Hammerson GA, Santos-Barrera G (2015). "Thamnophis sirtalis ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T62240A68308267.en
  2. ^ Conant, Roger (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-19979-4. (Thamnophis sirtalis, pp. 157–160 + Plates 23 & 24 + Map 116).
  3. ^ Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). uga.edu
  4. ^ Fast Facts: Common garter snake Archived 2013-07-30 at the Wayback Machine. Canadian Geographic
  5. ^ "Citizen Information Service: State Symbols". Massachusetts State (Secretary of the Commonwealth). Retrieved 2011-01-21. The Garter Snake became the official reptile of the Commonwealth on January 3, 2007.