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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 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.
Thamnophis saurita, also known as the eastern ribbon snake [a], common ribbon snake, or simply ribbon snake, is a common species of garter snake native to Eastern North America. [2] It is a non-venomous [ 5 ] [ 6 ] species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae .
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 ...
Indigenous species include one species of crocodilian, 12 lizard species, 49 snake species, and 31 turtle species. Three native species have possibly been extirpated from the state. These include the eastern indigo snake , southern hognose snake and the mimic glass lizard .
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.
The IUCN status of state reptiles at the genus level is ambiguous. For Massachusetts's garter snake, the listed Least Concern represents the status of the pictured common garter snake, the species found throughout much of North America and residing in Massachusetts. [28]