Blackneck garter snake

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Blackneck garter snake
Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus.jpg
Eastern black-necked garter snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species:
T. cyrtopsis
Binomial name
Thamnophis cyrtopsis
(Kennicott, 1860)
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. [3]

Contents

Description

There are three recognized subspecies of the blackneck garter snake, two of which, Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis and Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus, are described below.

Western blackneck garter snake

Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis(Kennicott, 1860)

The western blackneck garter snake may attain 107 cm (42 inches) in total length. The snake is colored dark olive with an orange-yellow stripe that is displayed on the middle of the body from the top while the underside is usually a cream or light shade of gray. [4] The western blackneck is a water snake that lives near rivers, swims, and eats small fish and tadpoles.

Eastern blackneck garter snake

Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus(Cope, 1880)

The eastern[ clarification needed ] blackneck garter snake is smaller than the western blackneck garter snake, with an average total length of less than 51 cm (20 inches). It is frequently found on dry land near a water source rather than in water. It displays three light stripes on a dark-colored body with uniform orange and orange-yellow spreading throughout. [5]

Geographic range

The blackneck garter snake can be found in southeastern and central Arizona, parts of the southwestern United States, Mexico and Guatemala. [1] [6]

Habitat

Found near water in desertscrub, grasslands, chaparral, woodland environments. [6]

Behavior

It is active during the day and during twilight activities, and occasionally at night, hibernating from late fall to winter and mating in late spring or summer. [6]

Feeding

Hunts in rivers for small fish, amphibians, other snakes, and invertebrates, such as earthworms.

Related Research Articles

Garter snake Common name for North American snakes of the genus Thamnophis

Garter snake is a common name for generally harmless, small to medium-sized snakes belonging to the genus Thamnophis in the family Colubridae. Native to North and Central America, species in the genus Thamnophis can be found from the subarctic plains of Canada to Costa Rica.

<i>Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis</i> Subspecies of snake

Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis, the northern ribbon snake, is a subspecies of garter snake. It is one of four subspecies of the ribbon snake and occurs in the United States and Canada in southern Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, southern Ontario, Michigan, New York, Nova Scotia, northern Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. It is listed as a state endangered species in Wisconsin. It is a slender black or brown snake with three bright-yellow or white stripes on its back and sides. The head is black, with the scales alongside the mouth being white. The underside is also white or light yellow, but it is mostly white on juveniles and adults. Adult ribbon snakes are 45–65 cm (18–26 in) in length.

San Francisco garter snake Subspecies of snake

The San Francisco garter snake is a slender multi-colored subspecies of the common garter snake. Designated as an endangered subspecies since the year 1967, it is endemic to San Mateo County and the extreme northern part of coastal Santa Cruz County in California. Some researchers estimate that there are only 1,000 to 2,000 adult snakes of the subspecies T. s. tetrataenia remaining. However, the full extent of the snakes' habitat has not been fully documented, and many snakes may utilize creeks and other waterways that are currently unexplored. This garter snake prefers wet and marshy areas, and because of its elusive nature, it is difficult to see or capture.

Plains garter snake Species of snake

The plains garter snake 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. The snake is commonly found living near water sources such as streams and ponds, but can also be found in urban areas and vacant lots. Although the IUCN lists the species as "Least Concern", some states have given it their own special status. This species is mildly venomous, although the venom is not toxic to humans.

Giant garter snake Species of snake

The giant garter snake is the largest species of garter snake. Relatively rare, it is a semi-aquatic snake with a limited distribution in the wetlands of central California.

<i>Thamnophis sauritus sauritus</i> Subspecies of snake

Thamnophis sauritus sauritus, the eastern ribbon snake or common ribbon snake, is one of four subspecies of the ribbon snake found in the southeastern United States.

Two-striped garter snake Species of snake

The two-striped garter snake is a species of aquatic garter snake, which is endemic to western North America.

Western terrestrial garter snake Species of snake

The western terrestrial garter snake is a western North American species of colubrid snake. At least five subspecies are currently recognized.

Aquatic garter snake Species of snake

The aquatic garter snake is a species of colubrid snake. Three subspecies are currently recognized.

The narrow-headed garter snake, Thamnophis rufipunctatus, is a species of garter snake, endemic to the southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico. Its common names also include narrowhead garter snake and narrowhead watersnake.

Thamnophis sirtalis semifasciatus, the Chicago garter snake, is a subspecies of the common garter snake native to the Chicago, United States, region. It was described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1892, and can be found in the vicinity of rural waterways in northeastern Illinois, such as Piscasaw Creek in Boone County and McHenry County, Illinois.

Wyoming is home to 12 amphibian species and 22 species of reptiles.

Amphibians and reptiles of Mount Rainier National Park

There are 14 species of amphibians and 5 species of reptiles known to occur in Mount Rainier National Park.

California red-sided garter snake Subspecies of snake

The California red-sided garter snake is a subspecies of the common garter snake. This slender subspecies of natricine snake is indigenous to North America and is one of three recognized subspecies of Thamnophis sirtalis found in California. While commonly confused with the subspecies T. s. concinnus, it is biologically part of the population of the subspecies T. s. tetrataenia, as pointed out by Boundy and Rossman (1995), but was preserved as T. s. infernalis as a neotype under ICZN code Article 75 in a 2000 decision by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) in 2000 in order to preserve the existing subspecies taxonomy.

Blackbelly garter snake Species of snake

The blackbelly garter snake is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. It is found in Mexico.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hammerson, G.A. (2013). "Thamnophis cyrtopsis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . IUCN. 2013: e.T63975A3132338. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T63975A3132338.en . Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Blackneck Garter Snake". Colorado State University. Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  3. ↑ "Black-necked Garter Snake". Nearartica.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-13. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  4. ↑ "Western Black Garter Snake ⋆ SnakeEstate".
  5. ↑ "Black-necked Garter Snake ⋆ SnakeEstate".
  6. 1 2 3 "BLACK-NECKED GARTERSNAKE Thamnophis cyrtopsis". Thomas C. Brennan. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
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