• Source: Texas garter snake

The Texas garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens) is a subspecies of the common garter snake (T. sirtalis). The subspecies, which belongs to the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae, is native to the western United States.




Geographic range


The Texas garter snake is found predominantly in central Texas, with disjunct populations in southwestern Kansas and western Oklahoma.




Habitat


The Texas garter snake is a terrestrial species. It is uncommon, even in its central Texas range, and seldom found in large numbers. It can be found in a wide range of habitats, but is usually close to a water source. It has typically been found in stream-side vegetation or in damp soil near bodies of water. It can be found under objects like old metal or wood, under ground, and in plants.




Description


The Texas garter snake has a greenish-black back with a distinctive bright-orange or red stripe down the center, and yellowish stripes on either side of the body that extend through the second, third, and fourth rows of dorsal scales above the belly plates. Adults range in total length (including tail) from 38 to 71 cm (15 to 28 in).




Defense


The Texas garter snake is generally not aggressive, although younger specimens have been known to strike when cornered. If handled, it will often flail about wildly to try to escape and release a foul-smelling musk from its cloaca.




References






Further reading


Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. ("Thamnophis sirtalis annectans [sic]", p. 674 + Plate 533).
Brown BC (1950). An Annotated Check List of the Reptiles and Amphibians of Texas. Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press. 257 pp. (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens, new subspecies, p. 203).
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. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens, pp. 432–433 + Plate 43).
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 (paperback), ISBN 0-307-47009-1 (hardcover). (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens, p. 148).




External links


Species Thamnophis sirtalis at The Reptile Database

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