Checkered garter snake
| Checkered garter snake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Thamnophis |
| Species: | T. marcianus |
| Binomial name | |
| Thamnophis marcianus (Baird & Girard, 1853) | |
| Synonyms | |
The checkered garter snake, Thamnophis marcianus, is a species of garter snake endemic to the southern United States, Mexico and Central America.
Etymology
The specific epithet, marcianus, is in honor of American Brigadier General Randolph B. Marcy, who led surveying expeditions to the frontier areas in the mid 19th century.
Description
The checkered garter snake is typically green in color, with a distinct, black checkerboard pattern down its back. It is capable of growing to a total length of 42 in (107 cm), but 28 in (71 cm) is closer to average.
Habitat
They are typically found near permanent bodies of water, such as streams and ponds, but have also been found in the semidesert region of the High Plains of West Texas.
Diet
Their diets include small frogs, toads, small fish, and earthworms.
Defensive behavior
They will rarely bite; instead, they release a foul-smelling liquid from their cloacae onto attackers.
They also have been found to have mild venom in their bodies.
Subspecies
The three recognized subspecies of T. marcianus are:
- T. m. marcianus (Baird & Girard, 1853)
- T. m. praeocularis (Bocourt, 1892)
- T. m. bovalli (Dunn, 1940)
In captivity
The checkered garter snake is the easiest garter snake to tame. Even a wild-caught one can become tame in a few days if handled carefully. The checkered garter snake is frequently available in the exotic pet trade, and makes a hardy captive animal. It can be trained to accept mice or fish fillets as food. Captive breeding, while not common, is done, and albino variants are being produced.
References
- Species Thamnophis marcianus at The Reptile Database
- ↑ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
Further reading
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thamnophis marcianus. |
- Baird, S.F. and C.F. Girard. 1853. Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpents. Smithsonian Institution. Washington, District of Columbia. xvi + 172 pp. (Eutainia marciana, pp. 36–37.)