Two-striped garter snake

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Two-striped garter snake
Thamnophis hammondii 02.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species:
T. hammondii
Binomial name
Thamnophis hammondii
(Kennicott, 1860)
Synonyms [2]
  • Eutaenia hammondii
    Kennicott, 1860
  • Tropidonotus digueti
    Mocquard, 1899
  • Thamnophis hammondii
    Stebbins, 1985
Two-striped garter snake in Riverside County, California Thamnophis hammondii.jpg
Two-striped garter snake in Riverside County, California

The two-striped garter snake (Thamnophis hammondii) is a species of aquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to western North America.

Contents

Taxonomy and etymology

The specific name hammondii is in honor of William A. Hammond, the U.S. Army surgeon who collected the first specimens. [3] [4]

Description

T. hammondii is a medium-sized snake, 18–30 in (46–76 cm) in total length (including tail), with a head barely wider than the neck. Two common color variations occur in the wild, a striped variant and a checkered variant. The striped variant has a yellowish lateral stripe on each side, and a fairly uniform dorsal coloring. The checkered variant lacks the lateral stripes and has two rows of small dark spots on each side. [5]

Geographic range, habitat, and diet

The two-striped garter snake is found in western North America, ranging from central California to Baja California, Mexico. It is a highly aquatic species, and prefers habitat adjacent to permanent or semi-permanent bodies of water. This species feeds primarily on fishes and amphibians. [6]

Reproduction

T. hammondii is ovoviviparous. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garter snake</span> Common name for North American snakes of the genus Thamnophis

Garter snake is the common name for 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 in all of the lower 48 United States, and nearly all of the Canadian provinces south of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut—with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador. They are found from the subarctic plains of west-central Canada east through Ontario and Quebec; from the Maritime Provinces and south to Florida, across the southern and central U.S. into the arid regions of the southwest and Mexico, Guatemala and south to the neotropics and Costa Rica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common garter snake</span> Species of snake

The common garter snake is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to North America and found widely across the continent. There are several recognized subspecies. Most common garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a black, brown or green background, and their average total length is about 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of about 137 cm (54 in). The average body mass is 150 g (5.3 oz). The common garter snake is the state reptile of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen snake</span> Species of snake

The queen snake is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic snake, a member of the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.

<i>Tropidoclonion</i> Genus of snakes

Tropidoclonion is a genus of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is monotypic, containing the sole species Tropidoclonion lineatum, commonly known as the lined snake. The species is endemic to North America.

<i>Thamnophis saurita</i> Species of snake

Thamnophis saurita, also known as the eastern ribbon snake, common ribbon snake, or simply ribbon snake, is a common species of garter snake native to Eastern North America. It is a non-venomous species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The ribbon snake averages 16 to 35 inches in total length. It is dark brown with bright yellow stripes. The ribbon snake is not sexually dimorphic; however, females are normally thicker than their male counterparts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco garter snake</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas garter snake</span> Subspecies of snake

The Texas garter snake is a subspecies of the common garter snake. The subspecies, which belongs to the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae, is native to the western United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Checkered garter snake</span> Species of snake

The checkered garter snake is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plains garter snake</span> 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.

<i>Regina grahamii</i> Species of snake

Regina grahamii, commonly known as Graham's crayfish snake, is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the central United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butler's garter snake</span> Species of snake

Butler's garter snake is a species of garter snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crayfish snake</span> Species of snake

The crayfish snake, also known commonly as the glossy crayfish snake, the glossy swampsnake, the glossy water snake, and the striped water snake, is a species of semiaquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, and preys mainly on crayfish.

The striped crayfish snake is a species of semiaquatic North American snake in the family Colubridae. The species derives its common name from its principal prey, crayfish. This snake is also called Allen's snake, the striped swamp snake, the striped swampsnake, or simply the swamp snake. It is endemic to peninsular Florida. Although rarely seen due to its secretive behavior, it can be found in large numbers in wet areas, with densities approaching 1,300 snakes per hectare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striped whipsnake</span> Species of snake

The striped whipsnake is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is closely related to the California whipsnake. The striped whipsnake is native to the western United States and adjacent northern Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwestern garter snake</span> Species of snake

The northwestern garter snake is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern ribbon snake</span> Subspecies of snake

The southern ribbon snake(Thamnophis saurita sackenii), also known commonly as the peninsula ribbon snake and the Florida ribbon snake, is a subspecies of garter snake in the family Colubridae. It is one of four subspecies of the ribbon snake.

<i>Thamnophis proximus</i> Species of snake

Thamnophis proximus, commonly known as the western ribbon snake, is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the western United States, Mexico, and Central America. The species has six recognized subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shorthead garter snake</span> Species of snake

Thamnophis brachystoma, commonly known as the shorthead garter snake or short-headed gartersnake, is a small species of colubrid snake. The species is endemic to the north-eastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra garter snake</span> Species of snake

Thamnophis couchii, commonly known as Couch's garter snake, the Sierra garter snake, or the western aquatic garter snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the western United States.

The Southern Durango spotted garter snake is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. It is endemic to the state of Durango, Mexico.

References

  1. Frost, D.R.; Hammerson, G.A.; Hollingsworth, B. (2007). "Thamnophis hammondii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2007: e.T21707A9311793. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T21707A9311793.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Species Thamnophis hammondii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Hume, Edgar Erskine (1942). "Hammond and Xantus de Vesey were not the only 'surgeons-ornithologists'". Ornithologists of the United States Army Medical Corps: Thirty-six biographies. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 583 pp. ISBN   978-0405107290.
  4. 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 hammondi, p. 115).
  5. "Two-striped Gartersnake - Thamnophis hammondii ". www.californiaherps.com. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  6. Kucera T (2000). "Thamnophis hammondii ". California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 24 August 2015.

Further reading