Checkered Garter Snake (Thamnophis marcianus) | Project Noah

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Photo by Ivan Rodriguez

Published on Project Noah

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32.4341, -110.909

Field Notes

Description:

Wish I knew how to approach snakes for a decent shot or two, but this is the best I could do! There were tons of these hanging around some natural springs we took a swim in, and they would probably be about a foot long, stretched out.

Habitat:

Usually found on the ground, but we saw that one had absolutely no problem swimming downstream, and the tail suggests that it could be a water snake.

Notes:

Eventually, we saw so many of these on our swim that no one bothered to worry if there was or wasn't one in the water with us; usually there always was.

Species ID Suggestions

Black-necked Gartersnake

Thamnophis cyrtopsis

2

Checkered Garter Snake

Thamnophis marcianus marcianus

1

Comments (3)

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Great photo! Please be sure to add this to the Snakes of the United States – CSC mission to help with their citizen science project! http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/12027210

Despite the black checkering, this individual has a bright orange-yellow mid-dorsal stripe & 2 black neck crescents making it a black- necked Gartersnake.

Thank you Chris! It seems to be right up until subspecies; for now, T. marcianus is a great bet. I mean with photos this blurry, I'm happy you had the eye to figure out species! :)

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