common garter snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Common garter snake is a medium-sized, typical snake. It is the most common snake in Minnesota. Adults can be from 14″ to 48″ long at maturity, though they are usually no more than 16″ in length. Females are slightly longer and significantly heavier than males. The background color is variable and may be light brown to black or olive green. There are three pale stripes that run the length of the body. The central stripe is light yellow. The lateral stripes are cream-colored to pale yellowish, and are on the second and third scale rows counting up from the belly (ventral) scales. There are two rows of alternating black spots on each side between the central and lateral stripes. The spots may be prominent and invade the stripes, or may be obscured on dark colored individuals. The upper (dorsal) and lateral scales have a narrow raised ridge (keel) along the centerline. At mid-body there are 19 to 21 rows of scales. On the eastern garter snake red skin may be visible between the scales when it stretched over recently consumed prey, but there are no red scales. On the red-sided garter snake there are bold red bars or spots between the central and lateral stripes. The belly is white and may be tinted yellowish or bluish. There is usually a row of small black spots at the ends of the ventral scales. These spots are partially hidden by overlapping ventral scales. The anal plate is not divided. Underneath the tail there are two rows of scales (subcaudal scales). The head and neck are uniformly dark usually with a pair of yellow spots. The scales above the mouth (labial scales) are the same color as the lateral stripe. Usually only one or two labial scales have a bold black border. The subspecies red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) has bold red bars or spots on the side between the dorsal and lateral scales. |
Size |
14″ to 48″ |
Similar Species |
Plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) lateral pale stripes are on the third and fourth scale rows counting up from the ventral scales. Usually all labial scales have a bold black border. Lined snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum) is much shorter, only 8″ to 12″ long at maturity. The 3 stripes are off-white. There are 2 rows of dark, half-moon marks on the belly. In Minnesota it has been found only in Blue Mounds State Park. |
Habitat |
Wide variety of habitats. Moist, grassy places. Forests, forest edges, prairies, meadows, and other areas near water. |
Biology |
Behavior |
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Lifespan |
5 to 10 years |
Life Cycle |
Overwintering common garter snakes emerge from their overwintering sites in March. Females reach sexual maturity in 2 or 3 years. Breeding takes place in April or May. Gestation takes 83 to 102 days. In July to September the female gives birth to a litter of 4¾″ to 9½″ long, live young. The litter size is usually 10 to 20 but may be as few as 5 or as many as 60. The young are on their own from the day of their birth. In late October they gather in large numbers, sometimes with other species of snakes, in rodent burrows, abandoned ant mounds, or under sidewalks, to overwinter. As the temperature drops they enter a state of sluggishness, inactivity, and torpor (brumation). It is similar to hibernation in mammals, but they stir occasionally to drink water. |
Food |
Earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish, bird eggs, mice, other snakes, and carrion. |
Toxicity |
Common garter snakes are venomous but their venom is not strong enough to cause serious harm to humans. Allergic reactions to a bite from a common garter snake are rare. Reaction to a bite is normally little more than swelling and irritation around the puncture wound. However, like a bite from any animal, bacteria from the mouth of the snake can cause an infection. |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 9/30/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Class |
Reptilia (reptiles) |
Superorder |
Lepidosauria |
Order |
Squamata (snakes and lizards) |
Suborder |
Serpentes (snakes) |
Infraorder |
Alethinophidia |
Superfamily |
Colubroidea |
Family |
Colubridae (colubrid snakes) |
Subfamily |
Natricinae |
Genus |
Thamnophis (garter snakes) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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bluestripe garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis similis) California Red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) Chicago garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis semifasciatus) common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis lowei) eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) maritime garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus) New Mexico garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis dorsalis) Puget Sound garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis pickeringii) red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) red-spotted garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus) San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) Texas garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens) valley garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) |
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Synonyms |
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Coluber Sirtalis Coluber ordinatus Tropidonotus concinnus Eutainia sirtalis Eutainia dorsalis Eutainia infernalis Eutainia pickeringii Eutainia concinna Tropidonotus bi-punctatus Eutaenia sirtalis obscura Tropidonotus sirtalis Eutanaeia sirtalis (misspelling) Eutaenia sirtalis Tropidonotus ordinatus var. sirtalis Eutaenia sirtalis ordinata Eutaenia sirtalis obscura Tammophis sirtalis (misspelling) |
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Common Names |
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common garter snake |
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Glossary
Anal plate
In snakes: the large scale in front of and covering the anus. In turtles: one of the posterior plates of the lower shell (plastron). In Lepidoptera: the often hardened shield on the dorsal surface of the last (10th) segment of the abdomen.
Brumation
Winter dormancy in reptiles. A cold-induced period of sluggishness, inactivity, and torpor in reptiles, akin to hibernation in mammals, but they stir occasionally to drink water.
Ventral scales
On snakes, the row of enlarged, elongated scales extending on the belly from the neck to the anal plate.
Visitor Photos |
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Delainie Davis |
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I have found 2 Common Garter Snakes In Big Lake, MN (sherburne county). A young Garter (my sister named Gregory) and a decent sized adult (I named Meanie). Found while herping in a nearby forest basking on the concrete trail. Released shortly after observing in a bucket for a bit! |
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Lane Keller |
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This snake was hiding in the rocks next to the river where it was basking in the sun to start of the day off with hunting leopard frogs that were everywhere in the state park. |
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Alfredo Colon |
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Theodore Loftsgard |
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Red sided garter snake near my house in a trench under sod pieces. Relocated to Quarry Hill. |
Margot Avey |
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This guy was big! |
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Kirk Nelson |
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Red-sided Garter Snake |
Luciearl |
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This garter sat very still so "I couldn't see it". Actually saw it very well and was able to take several photos. About 2 ft. long. |
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Jimmy Hultgren |
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Chris H. |
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After a record cold week, the sunshine finally warmed things up enough for some springtime sightings like pasque flowers and this little garter. |
Robert Briggs |
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I'm fairly certain this is a common rather than plains. Didn't get close enough with this picture - I had a wide angle lens on at the time. |
Ida Marie |
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I was in the bee balm photographing that red spotted purple butterfly yesterday and 4 and 1/2 feet off the ground this snake appears and scared the living day lights out of me....he had to be at least 3 feet long. |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) |
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red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) |
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Slideshows |
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) |
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About
NH Conservation Status: Not listed State Rank Status: Widespread and secure Distribution: Throughout NH Description: A small striped snake measuring 18-26 inches. Has variable color patterns but typically has 2-3 yellow, brownish, or greenish stripes running vertically down the top and sides of the snake. May also have variable black spots between the stripes. Commonly Confused Species: Eastern ribbon snake; Brown snake Habitat: Found in a variety of habitats including woodlands, hillsides, wetlands, backyards, and even urban areas. Will use a variety of cover objects for shelter including rocks, logs, stumps and other debris such as trash piles and sheet metal. Life History: Breeding may occur in spring or fall. Ten to 40 live young are born from July to September. Hibernation may be solitary or communal in rock crevices, holes, stumps, or foundations. Conservation Threats: Species is secur from: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/snakes/profile_garter_snake.htm |
Thamnophis sirtalis (Eastern Garter Snake) |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Wild Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis eating Bufo americanus!! 1 June 2013 |
About
Published on Sep 20, 2013 This is actually six (6) varying, but related—save an adorable, happy ending—videos pasted together, but the feeding segment starts at the 2:04 mark and is most of the video. I strongly encourage You to read my notes below, too; some are just short clarifications of my lazy articulation or when I can't be heard well, while others—such as the 3:37 and 5:34 notes—detail elaborations, knowledge and trivia. I am nervous when on camera, even just speaking and not seen, especially when something as exciting or a first-time event like this is going on, so I cannot think clearly and leave a lot out and am not able to utilize my technical terminology well. Thanks, and enjoy!! 1:26 -- '...a good reference to my knee, my hand...' and fat *near* the tail; not 'fat tail', haha. Having watched this video a few times now, this specimen may have just been inflated/flattened to appear more threatening (defensive), and thus, either gender is possible (and therefore not necessarily a gravid female). 3:37 -- Where I talk about the rear fangs (and the Duvernoy's gland essentially, I just didn't mention per se), and in particular: the misbelief of "puncturing and deflating toads", I would like to provide an excerpt of greater elaboration, from Linda Krulikowski's amazing book: Snakes of New England: "The [Duvernoy's] gland is composed of branched tubules rather than simple groupings of cells, and is situated immediately under the skin, above and near the angle of the jaw. It is derived from the same tissue as tooth enamel. The Duvernoy's gland opens by a duct at the base of the posterior, enlarged teeth. The secretions from the glands flow down the enlarged, rear teeth and into the prey, by the chewing motions of the snake. The secretions are introduced slowly into the victim, by indirect pressure from the nearby jaw-closing muscles (Green. 1997: 78-95). The secretions of Duvernoy's glands are colorless, whereas true [= Viperidae, Elapidae] venom glands secretions are typically some shade of yellow. These clear secretions immobilize the victim and help the snakes digest the prey." "The secretions are introduced slowly into the victim, by indirect pressure from the nearby jaw-closing muscles (Green. 1997: 78-95)." This is where it looks like not just Heterodon, but also Thamnophis and Nerodia, as can be seen at the 5:09-10 mark (starts opening at 5:06), are "puncturing and deflating toads." "These clear secretions immobilize the victim and help the snakes digest the prey." As stated in my video, this jaw-closing action is trying to immobilize the prey via injecting venom, but also to expedite/aid the digestion process. Trivia Bit #1: Rear-fanged serpents are technically called opisthoglyphous, or in the case of a few genera such as Leioheterodon, aglyphous. Trivia Bit #2: Nerodia spp. don't inject venom; they possess an anti-coagulant instead, which induces bleeding/prevents the wounds from clotting. Thus, the prey bleeds, and consequently 'faints', faster. Id est, it is still being immobilized. 5:34 -- Where I talk about the white [milky] substance, a toxin, produced by toads' parotoid glands to distaste, sicken or even kill would-be predators, which many other amphibians (including some newts) produce via different means, it is technically called Bufotoxin with Bufo spp., such as this B. americanus was producing against this Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. Parotoid [alternatively, paratoid] vs. Parotid. It is technically the former with toads and other amphibians, but many sources will speak "parotid" which is actually a salivary gland in humans. This is an ongoing funny mistake by many authors and sources. Just a little trivia for You. And please excuse my mispronunciation; being a musician, I utilize "artistic license" on many words in Life. ;) Thamnophis complex = North American Garter and Ribbon Snakes 8:38 -- 'She is definitely on-guard.' 8:44 -- 'Wo, hey, [just] trying to get some footage of You, Girl.' 9:43/9:46 -- The white powdery substance on my (left) hand was the serpent's feces/musk. 10:18 -- 'Head scales' is quite commonly used; however, "plates", which consist of many differently-named groups around the head, is more proper. In Hognose Snakes of all three genera, they also have azygous scales which are situated immediately behind the rostral scale (the one which gives them their "Hog" nose), and which separate the internasals and prefrontals. 10:34 -- [Thamnophis] sirtalis sirtalis (shame on me for leaving out the actual genus name :P) |
Garter Snake Foreplay (Colubridae: Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) |
About
Published on Apr 14, 2012 Three smaller male Eastern garter snakes compete to seduce a larger, unresponsive female during an unseasonably warm and humid mid-April day. Photographed at Fisher, Minnesota (14 April 2012). |
Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this reptile. |
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This button not working for you? |
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Delainie Davis |
Location: Big Lake, MN (Sherburne County) I have found 2 Common Garter Snakes In Big Lake, MN (sherburne county). A young Garter (my sister named Gregory) and a decent sized adult (I named Meanie). Found while herping in a nearby forest basking on the concrete trail. Released shortly after observing in a bucket for a bit! |
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| Lane Keller 9/12/2022 |
Location: Buffalo River State Park This snake was hiding in the rocks next to the river where it was basking in the sun to start of the day off with hunting leopard frogs that were everywhere in the state park. |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/28/2022 |
Location: Albany, NY |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/11/2022 |
Location: Albany, NY |
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| Theodore Loftsgard 7/1/2021 |
Location: Rochester, MN near my house in a trench under sod pieces. Relocated to Quarry Hill. |
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| Marvin Gerald 6/15/2021 |
Location: Kandi Chippewa Line SE, Raymon, MN 56282 Sighting around 09:30AM with a live frog in its mouth among some cut tree branches on the ground. I startled it and it escaped into some nearby tall grass. |
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| Margot Avey 9/20/2020 |
Location: Westwood Nature Center, St. Louis Park, MN This guy was big! |
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| Kirk Nelson 5/23/2020 |
Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park |
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| Luciearl 5/8/2020 |
Location: Fairview Twp, Cass County This garter sat very still so "I couldn't see it". Actually saw it very well and was able to take several photos. About 2 ft. long. |
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| Jimmy Hultgren 4/27/2020 |
Location: Austin Minnesota, Mower County |
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| Chris H. 4/19/2020 |
Location: Brainerd Northland Arboretum, Brainerd, MN 56401 After a record cold week, the sunshine finally warmed things up enough for some springtime sightings like pasque flowers and this little garter. |
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| Robert Briggs 10/22/2016 |
I'm fairly certain this is a common rather than plains. Didn't get close enough with this picture - I had a wide angle lens on at the time. |
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| Ida Marie 7/29/2016 |
I was in the bee balm photographing that red spotted purple butterfly yesterday and 4 and 1/2 feet off the ground this snake appears and scared the living day lights out of me....he had to be at least 3 feet long. |
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Created: 4/12/2009 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |