Talk:San Francisco garter snake

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San Francisco garter snake has been listed as a good article under the good-article criteria. If you can improve it further, please do. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can delist it, or ask for a review.

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An entry from San Francisco garter snake appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know? column on May 15, 2006.

Contents 1 Capitalisation 2 Importance ranking in Wikiproject California 3 US Zoo Population 4 Are they never in San Francisco?

[edit] Capitalisation

Why is the "g" and "s" capitalized in garter snake? It isn't a complete proper noun, as if it were all a place or anything. Mike H. That's hot 21:41, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

the literature shows it both ways. i guess i was playing to the consistency of wikipedia where it is capitalised in the Common Garter Snake article. Covalent 22:27, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia:Naming conventions (fauna) -Dawson 23:21, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

the wiki fauna naming conventions is somewhat ambiguous, but in the five examples i read in the conventions all five had caps. further the following quote is found there: "The underlying rationale for capitalization is that this signals to the reader that we are indicating a particular, exact species and avoiding ambiguity." this sentiment is clearly applicable here since we are trying to tell the reader foremost that this is a recognized distinct species and not just a "form" of the common garter snake or an area name. Covalent 00:11, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Importance ranking in Wikiproject California

I have designated this page as an importance=High based upon the fact that this is within a small number of endangered reptiles in the state. Its range is also associated with a densely populated part of the state in a locale of high "name recognition". Anlace 16:52, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

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[edit] US Zoo Population

I notice that the article doesn't really have any information on captive populations. In particular, might it be worth mentioning that there are, to my knowledge, only 10 individuals in US zoos, 4 on display at the San Francisco Zoo and 6 in a Southern California zoo (I think the San Diego one) for breeding purposes (IIRC)? I'm thinking the breeding population is probably noteworthy enough; and the only displayed population in the US being in San Francisco might also be noteworthy, especially since all 10 used to be housed there (although I suppose I am probably a bit biased on that note, so a second opinion is good). And yes, I can get more information/confirm stuff if it's needed. - Bulbaboy 01:10, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

possibly worth mentioning, but i dont have reference to the above. if you can provide ref i shall be glad to add a mention. Covalent 13:53, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Okay, found a reference by Googling it. SFGate.com has what looks like a good article here, and it even mentions that 6 went to San Diego. I also found the San Francisco Zoo's fact sheet on the snakes (although that was through Google, not their search function, for some reason); since you've got a fact sheet link up from another zoo anyway (i.e. indicated that fact sheets are worthwhile links), I'm thinking it might be nice to add one from a zoo where they're actually being displayed, so I guess I'll stick that in the external links. - Bulbaboy 17:15, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Are they never in San Francisco?

The article indicates that these snakes range south of San Francisco. However, about 10 years ago my son and I were at the playground in Glen Park Canyon, San Francisco. Several children saw a snake and one of the dad's caught it. I'm no authority, but that gentleman claimed that it was a San Francisco Garter Snake. Other than being actually in San Francisco, the habitat is correct: heavily vegitated wetlands (the bottom of the canyon) with hills around. The snake was released up the canyon.

you should publish an article on your sighting. it would be quite significant if verified. to my knowledge there is no literature to support populations in sf. in fact some of the literature emphatically states the species is not in sf. cheers Covalent 13:55, 16 May 2006 (UTC)