Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis • Squamata, Serpentes, Colubridae, Natricinae, Thamnophis, T. sirtalis
North America, spanning from southern Canada down to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
Look up Common Garter Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Squamata, Serpentes, Colubridae, Natricinae, Thamnophis, T. sirtalis
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, facing local threats from habitat fragmentation and road mortality.
Physical Description
Displays distinctive light longitudinal stripes running down a dark dorsum, with keeled scales and a relatively slender body.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen is roughly 35 cm long; typical adults range from 46 to 130 cm total length.
Habitat
Found in diverse habitats including fields, woodlands, and near wetlands, often at lower to moderate elevations.
Diet & Feeding
Actively forages for a broad diet of amphibians, fish, earthworms, and small mammals.
Reproduction
Viviparous species giving birth to litters of 10 to 40 or more live young in the late summer.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, facing local threats from habitat fragmentation and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Serves an important role in controlling amphibian and rodent populations while frequently appearing in North American environmental education.
Notable Features
Known for high adaptability to human-altered landscapes and diverse dietary habits across its wide range.