Bronikowski, A. Metabolism, body size and life span: a case study in evolutionarily divergent populations of the garter snake Thamnophis elegans. Integrative and Comparative Biology , Cossel Jr, J. Drummond, H. Geographic variation in the foraging behavior of the garter snake, Thamnophis elegans. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology , Frost, D.
Hammerson, B. Garner, T. Multiple paternity in the western terrestrial garter snake, Thamnophis elegans. Canadian Journal of Zoology , Gould, F. Gregory, P. Immobility and supination in garter snakes Thamnophis elegans following handling by human predators.
Journal of Comparative Psychology , Hallock, L. Harding, J. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. Isaac, L. Can snakes hide in plain view? Chromatic and achromatic crypsis of two colour forms of the Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , Kaplan, M. Savonen, C.
Sparkman, A. Bronikowski, J. Billings, D. Von Borstel, S. Avian predation and the evolution of life histories in the garter snake Thamnophis elegans. The American Midland Naturalist , A test of life-history theories of immune defence in two ecotypes of the garter snake, Thamnophis elegans.
Journal of Animal Ecology , Wechsler, D. Garter Snakes. To cite this page: Whitaker, J. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts.
While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control. Geographic Range Thamnophis elegans , the western terrestrial garter snake, is found in North America, ranging from northern Mexico to Canada. Cossel Jr, ; Wechsler, Other Physical Features ectothermic heterothermic bilateral symmetry Sexual Dimorphism female larger Average mass g 5.
Gould, ; Kaplan, Reproduction Usually western terrestrial garter snakes mate in the spring, but mating can also occurs in the fall. Garner and Larsen, ; Gould, Mating System polygynandrous promiscuous Females give birth to live young after retaining the eggs in their bodies. Breeding season Mating takes place in spring, after hibernation, when temperatures rise.
Range number of offspring 4 to 19 Average number of offspring 12 Range gestation period 2 to 3 months Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity female 2 years Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity male 2 years Females retain the eggs in their body before they hatch, which is a significant energy investment.
Bronikowski and Vleck, ; Harding, ; Wechsler, Behavior Local climate and seasons dictate when western terrestrial garter snakes are active. Cossel Jr, ; Gould, ; Hallock and McAllister, Key Behaviors terricolous diurnal motile sedentary hibernation aestivation daily torpor solitary Home Range The home range size of western terrestrial garter snakes is not reported in the literature and is likely to vary, depending on local habitat quality.
Cossel Jr, ; Hallock and McAllister, Communication and Perception Western terrestrial garter snakes have well-developed senses of taste and smell but poor eyesight and poor depth perception. Gould, ; Hallock and McAllister, Communication Channels visual tactile chemical Other Communication Modes pheromones Perception Channels visual tactile acoustic vibrations chemical Food Habits Coastal populations of western terrestrial garter snakes primarily eat organisms that are found on land. Drummond and Burghardt, ; Gould, Primary Diet carnivore eats terrestrial vertebrates piscivore insectivore molluscivore vermivore Animal Foods mammals amphibians reptiles fish insects mollusks terrestrial worms Predation Western terrestrial garter snakes avoid predation by blending into their surroundings using cryptic coloration.
Nearctic living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. Read more Classification Kingdom Animalia animals Animalia: information 1 Animalia: pictures Animalia: specimens Animalia: sounds Animalia: maps Chordata: information 1 Chordata: pictures Chordata: specimens Chordata: sounds Vertebrata: information 1 Vertebrata: pictures Vertebrata: specimens Vertebrata: sounds Reptilia: information 1 Reptilia: pictures Reptilia: specimens Reptilia: sounds Squamata: pictures Squamata: specimens 7.
Colubridae: pictures Thamnophis: pictures They eat all the pests that wreak havoc in your garden, subsisting on slugs, snails, insects, grasshoppers and small rodents. They also like to chow down on worms, frogs, salamanders, fish and tadpoles, hiding under boards, vegetation, in stone walls, under logs or among rocks in meadows, woodlands, marshes and along hills. Garters make good pets, mainly because they are active during the day.
They are relatively small snakes and, as long as there is an adult nearby, they are easy for children to hold. Experts recommend you shouldn't catch a garter in the wild to keep as a pet. It could be against the law. Instead, go to a pet store or a breeder, or get one from a rescue organization. If you decide to keep a garter, put the snake in a to gallon Keep it secure so the snake doesn't escape.
Make sure the home has enough fresh water and is warm. You can use a heat lamp or heat mat. Put some rocks inside. Garters like to rub against them. You can use shredded paper as a bed. Just make sure you change the paper regularly. Male garter snakes sometimes produce both male and female pheromones.
During the mating season, this ability fools other males into attempting to mate with them. Commonly found in North America, Garter snakes prefer moist, grassy environments and can be found in marshes, fields, forests and wetland areas. Although generally a solitary reptile, Garter snakes hibernate in large numbers from late October until early April in natural burrows or holes under rocks. They lay together forming tight coils to keep warm which ensures they maintain a minimum body temperature for survival.
Garter snakes can vary in colour and pattern but typically have three light stripes that run down the length of their body. The average length is about 88cm 35ins but they can grow to be as long as cm 54ins with males being smaller than females. Mating season begins as soon as they emerge from hibernation in the spring.
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