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The first garter snake to be scientifically described was the eastern garter snake (now Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), by zoologist and taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The genus Thamnophis was described by Leopold Fitzinger in 1843 as the genus for the garter snakes and ribbon snakes. [ 2 ]
Common garter snakes are resistant to naturally-occurring poisons in their prey, such as that of the American toad and rough-skinned newt, the latter of which can kill a human if ingested. Garter snakes (in addition to their own mildly venomous saliva) have the ability to retain poisons from their consumed amphibian prey, thus making them ...
A rough-skinned newt underwater A rough-skinned newt at Brice Creek in Oregon. Throughout much of the newt's range, the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) has been observed to exhibit resistance to the tetrodotoxin produced in the newt's skin. While in principle the toxin binds to a tube-shaped protein that acts as a sodium channel in ...
Garter snakes can bite or strike humans if they feel threatened. Small garter snakes eat prey such as slugs and earthworms, but larger garter snakes eat birds, fish, amphibians and rodents.
Oregon garter snake (T. a. hydrophilus), in OregonThe aquatic garter snake grows up to 18–40 inches (46–102 cm) long. Its dorsal coloration varies greatly. The different coloration patterns are: pale gray with alternating rows of darker blotches on the sides, dark brown with borders that are less distinct, or nearly all black.
While unusual, there are a few species of snake that are actually poisonous. Keelback snakes are both venomous and poisonous – their poisons are stored in nuchal glands and are acquired by sequestering toxins from poisonous toads the snakes eat. [2] Similarly, certain garter snakes from Oregon can retain toxins in their livers from ingesting ...
The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a snake indigenous to North America. Most garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a brown background and their average length is about 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 ft). The common garter snake is a diurnal snake. In summer, it is most active in the morning and late afternoon; in cooler ...
It is an immensely variable species, and even the most experienced herpetologists have trouble with its identification. They are medium-sized snakes, usually 46–104 cm (18–41 in). Like many species of North American garter snake, the western terrestrial garter snake