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Home | Wildlife | Snakes |
Wandering Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans vagrans)
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans)
Snakes Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas |
Note yellow spot atop the head |
General: Wandering Gartersnakes (Thamnophis elegans vagrans) are long, thin snakes with a yellow stripe down the center of the back and yellow stripes on each side. Often with a yellow spot on the top of the head.
Taxonomy: Colubrid (Non-venomous) Snakes Family (Colubridae).
Technical Description:
Diet:
Habitat: |
Sometimes the yellow spot atop the head is absent |
Range: Widely distributed across the western U.S. In Nevada, occurs in northern Nevada, an isolated population in southwestern Nevada, and now along the Las Vegas Wash.
Breeding: |
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Similar Species: Striped Whipsnakes look similar, but lack the yellow dorsal stripe and do not have a light spot on the top of the head.
Comments: |
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Western "Terrestrial" Garter Snakes, in this case the Mountain Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans elegans), readily take to the water. |
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Dorsal pattern and keeled scales |
Yellow stripes all around |
Everting its anus and trying to put serious stink on me |
Belly scales |
Back in the water -- I'm free! |
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
Snake captured along Las Vegas Wash (Sep 2015) |
Snake captured along Las Vegas Wash (Sep 2015) |
Snake captured along Las Vegas Wash (Sep 2015) |
Snake captured along Las Vegas Wash (Sep 2015) |
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Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 221214 |
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