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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 ]
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.
The scientific name Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis is a combination of Ancient Greek and New Latin that means "bush snake that looks like a garter strap". The generic name Thamnophis is derived from the Greek "thamnos" (bush) and "ophis" (snake) and the specific name sirtalis is derived from the New Latin "siratalis" (like a garter), a reference to the snake's color pattern resembling a striped ...
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
The plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) is a species of garter snake native to most of the central United States as far north as Canada and as far south as Texas.It has a distinctive orange or yellow stripe from its head to tail, and the rest of its body is mainly a gray-green color.
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.
The northwestern garter snake is small, with adults averaging around 13–38 in (33–97 cm) in total length (including tail). [2] It is one of the most variable species of snakes in the world. [citation needed]
The giant garter snake is the largest species of garter snake, with the adult snakes ranging from 94–165 cm (37.0–65.0 in) in length. As with many snakes, the female giant garter snakes tend to be longer and larger than the males. [3]