Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Thamnophis, Species: T. sirtalis
Widely distributed throughout North America, ranging from southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico, inhabiting diverse biomes from sub-arctic regions to subtropical wetlands.
Look up Common Garter Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Thamnophis, Species: T. sirtalis
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern due to wide distribution, adaptability, and large overall population size, though local populations face habitat fragmentation.
Physical Description
Characterized by distinctive longitudinal light stripes running down a dark body, keeled scales giving a textured appearance, a relatively distinct head, and round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen shown is approximately 40-50 cm in length. Typical adult size ranges from 46 to 130 cm, with females generally growing larger than males.
Habitat
Found in a broad range of habitats including forests, fields, grasslands, marshes, and urban backyards, typically near permanent or temporary sources of water such as ponds, lakes, streams, and ditches.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist carnivore feeding on earthworms, amphibians, fish, small mammals, and insects, utilizing an active foraging strategy.
Reproduction
Viviparous (giving birth to live young), producing litters typically ranging from 10 to 40 or more offspring in the late summer.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with other snake species displaying longitudinal stripes such as Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis saurita) andlined snakes (Tropidoclonion lineatum), distinguished primarily by scale patterns and stripe positioning.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern due to wide distribution, adaptability, and large overall population size, though local populations face habitat fragmentation.
Cultural Significance
Commonly encountered in suburban areas, serving an important ecological role in controlling amphibian and invertebrate populations and frequently utilized in educational settings.
Notable Features
Demonstrates high ecological adaptability, cold tolerance allowing it to range further north than many other reptiles, and communal overwintering behaviors in hibernacula.