Northwestern garter snake

The northwestern garter snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.

Northwestern garter snake
Thamnophis ordinoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species:
T. ordinoides
Binomial name
Thamnophis ordinoides
(Baird & Girard, 1852)
Synonyms[1]
  • Tropidonotus ordinoides
    Baird & Girard, 1852
  • Eutaenia ordinoides
    — Baird & Girard, 1853
  • Thamnophis ordinoides
    — Fitch, 1940

Geographic range

In the United States, T. ordinoides is found in California, Oregon, and Washington; in Canada, it is found in British Columbia.[2]

Description

The northwestern garter snake is small, with adults averaging around 13–38 in (33–97 cm) in total length (including tail).[2] It is one of the most variable species of snakes in the world.

Habitat

The northwestern garter snake is most commonly found on the edge of meadows, surrounded by forest,[3][4] as some sunshine is needed for its survival. It can also be found under stumps when it is too hot out.

Diet

T. ordinoides preys on slugs, salamanders, and frogs.[4]

References
  1. "Thamnophis ordinoides ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. Stebbins RC (2003). A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series ®. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. xiii + 533 pp., 56 color plates. ISBN 978-0-395-98272-3. (Thamnophis ordinoides, pp. 386-387 + Plate 50 + Map 169).
  3. Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp., 34 plates, 103 figures. (Thamnophis ordinoides, pp. 248-249).
  4. Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: ComstockPublishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes), 305 figures. (Thamnophis ordinoides, pp. 806-810, Figure 233 + Map 57 on p. 756).

Further reading
  • Baird SF, Girard CF (1852). "Descriptions of new species of Reptiles, collected by the U. S. Exploring Expedition under the command of Capt. Charles Wilkes, U. S. N." Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 6: 174–177. (Tropidonotus ordinoides, new species, p. 176).
  • Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp., 657 plates. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. (Thamnophis ordinoides, pp. 669-670 + Plate 512).
  • Smith HM; Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3. (Thamnophis ordinoides, pp. 150-151).
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