Checkered garter snake

Checkered garter snake
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Thamnophis
Species:	T. marcianus
Binomial name
Thamnophis marcianus (Baird & Girard, 1853)
Synonyms [2]
Eutainia marciana Baird & Girard, 1853 Eutaenia marciana — Bocourt, 1893 Thamnophis marcianus — Ruthven, 1907

The checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. There are two recognized subspecies.

Etymology

The specific epithet marcianus is in honor of American Brigadier General Randolph B. Marcy, who led surveying expeditions to the frontier areas in the mid-19th century. ^[3]

Description

The checkered garter snake is typically greenish in color, with a distinct, black checkerboard pattern down its back. It is capable of growing to a total length (tail included) of 42 inches (107 cm), but is usually 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm). ^[4]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of Thamnophis marcianus are desert, grassland, shrubland, and forest, usually close to water, at altitudes from sea level to 2,200 m (7,200 ft). ^{[1] [4]}

Diet

Eating a Gulf Coast toad

The diet of Thamnophis marcianus includes small frogs, toads, small fish, and earthworms.^{[ citation needed ]} If kept as a pet, it can be trained on live or freeze-thawed mice, but even so, it is a fussy eater and can suddenly start to refuse mice at any point.^{[ citation needed ]}

Behavior

Unlike most garter snakes, the checkered garter snake is partially nocturnal. ^[2]

Defensive behavior

Thamnophis marcianus will strike and bite if provoked. It will also release a foul-smelling liquid from its cloaca onto attackers.^{[ citation needed ]}

Reproduction

Thamnophis marcianus is ovoviviparous and may be parthenogenetic. ^[2]

Venom

Thamnophis marcianus was long thought to be nonvenomous, but recent discoveries have revealed that it does in fact produce a mild neurotoxic venom. T. marcianus cannot kill humans with the small amount of venom it produces, which is comparatively mild, and it also lacks an effective means of delivering it. It does have enlarged teeth in the back of the mouth, but its gums are significantly larger. The Duvernoy's gland of a garter snake is posterior to (to the rear of) the snake's eye. The mild venom is spread into wounds through a chewing action.^{[ citation needed ]}

Subspecies

Two subspecies of Thamnophis marcianus are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. ^[2]

• T. m. marcianus(Baird & Girard, 1853)
• T. m. praeocularis(Bocourt, 1892)

Nota bene : A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Thamnophis.

Albino checkered garter snake

In captivity

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.^{[ citation needed ]} Captive breeding, while not common, is done, and albino variants are being produced.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. Chaves, G.; Lamar, W.; Porras, L.W.; Solórzano, A.; Sunyer, J.; Hammerson, G.A. (2013). "Thamnophis marcianus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T198521A2529116. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T198521A2529116.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Species Thamnophis marcianus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Thamnophis marcianus, p. 168).
4. Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 494 pp., 47 color plates, 207 figures. ISBN   978-0-544-12997-9. (Thamnophis marcianus, p. 428 + Plate 42).

External links

• http://www.thamnophis.com.
• http://www.gartersnake.info.

Further reading

• Baird SF, Girard CF (1853). Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpents. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xvi + 172 pp. (Eutainia marciana, new species, pp. 36–37).
• Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 743 pp. ISBN   0-394-50824-6. (Thamnophis marcianus, p. 669 + Plate 515).
• Heimes, P. (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. ISBN   978-3899731002. 572 pp.
• Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Thamnophis marcianus, pp. 241–243).
• Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN   0-307-13666-3. (Thamnophis marcianus, pp. 150–151).
• Stebbins RC (2003). A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series ®. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. xiii + 533 pp. ISBN   978-0-395-98272-3. (Thamnophis marcianus, p. 389 + Plate 50 + Map 159).
• Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (Thamnophis marcianus, p. 101).
• Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates. 1,105 pp. (in two volumes). (Thamnophis marcianus, pp. 802–806, Figure 231 + Map 58 on p. 763).