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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 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 ...
Common names: blackneck garter snake, black-neck garter snake. Thamnophis cyrtopsis, the blackneck garter snake, is a species of garter snake of the genus Thamnophis. [2] It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico and Guatemala, and can be found in a wide range of different habitats, [1] often near water sources.
Garter snakes do not exhibit mimicry or aposematic coloration; relying on cryptic coloration for protection, they will freeze until they know they are spotted, then attempt a stealthy departure. [18] The decision of a juvenile garter snake to attack a predator can be affected by whether the snake has just eaten or not. Snakes that have just ...
T. e. terrestris with dark coloring Mountain garter snake (T. e. elegans) defensive posture. Most western terrestrial garter snakes have a yellow, light orange, or white dorsal stripe, accompanied by two stripes of the same color, one on each side. Some varieties have red or black spots between the dorsal stripe and the side stripes.
A long yellow stripe running down the back may be present or absent, only confined to the neck, or just very indistinct. The throat and underside of the snake are whitish to yellow. One color morph of the aquatic garter snake has a blue-gray background color with a faint olive-colored dorsal stripe and white dots along its sides. Another color ...
The checkered garter snake is one of the easiest garter snakes to tame. Even a wild-caught one can become tame in a few days if handled carefully. [citation needed] The checkered garter snake is frequently available in the exotic pet trade, and makes a hardy captive animal. [citation needed] It can be trained to accept mice or fish fillets as food.
The northwestern garter snake is most commonly found on the edge of meadows, surrounded by forest, [3] [4] as some sunshine is needed for its survival. It can also be found under stumps when it is too hot out.