Common Gartersnake (Formerly Common Garter Snake)NONVENOMOUS
Scientific Name: Thamnophis sirtalisFamily: Natricidae
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Description & Size
- Legless
- No eyelids
- Lacks external ears
- Scales on the back have a ridge in the middle (keeled)
- Single anal scale
- Stripe on each side of the snake that runs head to tail on the 2nd and 3rd scale rows above the belly scales (ventral scales)
- Total length: 41.0-140.0 cm (16.1-55.1 in)
- Back color: dark
- Belly color: white to yellow (usually)
Habitat
- Almost any habitat next to water
- Most common: grassland-woodland edges by water
Diet
- Fish
- Amphibian adults and larvae
- Worms
- Small mammals
- Insects
- Slugs
Life History
- Diurnal
- Active season: March – December
- Breeding season: late March - June
- Gives live birth
- 3-85 young per individual