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Common garter snake

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 5 months ago

 Common Garter Snake

(Thamnophis sirtalis)

 

 

Taxonomy

 

Kingdom: Animalia

   Phylum: Chordata

     Class: Sauropsida

        Family: Colubridae

          Genus: Thamnophis

             Species: sirtalis

 

 

Identification

 

Common Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) have 7 upper labial scales compared to the Western Terristrial Garter Snake (T. elegans) have 8 upper labial scales. The Common Garter Snake typically has 3 light (yellow to cream) stripes down its back with red stripes and dark spots on its sides. The dorsal stripe has an even margin. The ground color on the Common Garter Snake is usually black or very dark in color. There eyes have round pupils.

 

Common Garter Snakes are typically medium-snakes that can reach sizes close to 132 cm. in length

 

Distrubution

 

( www.imnh.isu.edu)

 

The distribution of the T. sirtalis is spread througout the U.S. and into the western side of Canada.

 

Habitat

 

 

 

T. sirtalis can be found typically in areas that are associated with water or in open meadows and coniferous forests. The habitat for these snakes can vary, which is part of the reason for the success of this species.

 

Behavior

 

T. sirtalis are a nocturnal and diurnal (night and day) species. Their behavior is determined by the weather along with many other reptiles. During hot streches they become a nocturnal species trying to avoid the harmful heat of the day, and as the weather turns more moderate they become a diurnal species. When winter hits the find safety underground, where the hibernate with other snakes. The active times for these snakes range between the months of March to October in the northern part of the U. S., and in Florida and other southern states they will be active all year round.

 

The are primarily a carnivorous species, feeding on earthworms, frogs, toads, salamanders, fishes, and along with many other small vertebrates.

 

Their main source of defense is a musky order and fecal matter that they exude from the anus to repel predators.

 

Reproduction

 

There may be multiple males that try to get the attention of a reproductive female, this leads to a form of mating called "snake balls". Because of this behavior the eggs may be fertilized by more than one male.

 

The young are usually born between the months of July and September, and are typically born in brood sizes of 10 to 18. Females can give birth to up to 85 young, but generally it is 13-26 on average.

 

Scientific Study

 

I found a study done by Richard Shine and Robert T. Mason, which they were trying to find out if male garter snakes energy stores limit his reproductive effort.

 

They trapped snakes as they were leaving the den in the spring. They weighed the snakes and then marked them. They recorded the data and waited for the snakes to return for winter hibernation. They set up wire mesh nets to recapture the snakes, when the recaptured they performed the same methods. T

 

They found that the rate that a male snake loses mass is directly linked to the energy that they expend on courtship activities. They also found that a male snake will modifie his reproductive expenditure during a breeding episode as a function of his energy resources.

 

References

 

www.imnh.isu.edu

 

www.zipcodezoo.com

 

www.animal-world.com

 

Richard Shine and Robert T. Mason. " Do a male garter snake energy stores limit his reproductive effort?" Journal of Zoology Vol. 83, Issue 10, pg. 1265-1270

 

Photos by Charles R. Peterson, 1998

 

 

 

Created by Brandon Larson

 

 

 

 

 

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