Garter / Ribbon snake
Blackbelly Garter Snake
HarmlessThamnophis melanogaster
6 photographs of the Blackbelly Garter Snake. © rociherrera.
The Blackbelly Garter Snake (Thamnophis melanogaster) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Also called
- Garter / Ribbon snake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Slender, 1.5–3 ft.
- Habitat
- Almost anywhere with moisture — gardens, fields, wetlands, and streamsides.
- Behavior
- Harmless and active by day; may release musk if handled. The most commonly seen snakes across most of the U.S.
- Identify
- Slender body with three light stripes running the length of a darker back.
About the Blackbelly Garter Snake
The blackbelly garter snake (Thamnophis melanogaster) is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. It is found in Mexico.
Authority
First described as Tropidonotus melanogaster by Peters in 1864, this species is now recognized as Thamnophis melanogaster.
Geographic range
It is found on the Central Mexican Plateau at elevations between 1,158 and 2,545 m above sea level.
Description
The dorsal color of these snakes may be brown, olive green, gray, red, orange, or pink. Ventral colors include the same as the dorsal, with the addition of yellow. Dorsal patterns may include stripes and there is typically a black stripe running down the center of the belly, which explains both the common and scientific names for this species. There is little or no difference in size between the sexes of Blackbelly garter snakes.
Habitat
This is a terrestrial species that occurs in temperate habitats. Although it lives on land, it has not been found more than 15 m from a body of water.
Reproduction
Blackbelly garter snakes are ovoviviparous.
Diet
These snakes feed exclusively under water and they are the only known Thamnophis to prey on soft-bodied crayfish. They have a highly variable diet that also includes fish, frogs, tadpoles, leeches, and earthworms. Good underwater vision and chemical cues help the snakes find and capture their prey.
Subspecies
Four subspecies are known:
gray blackbelly garter snake, T. m. canescens Smith, 1942
Chihuahuan blackbelly garter snake, T. m. chihuahuaensis Tanner, 1959
lined blackbelly garter snake, T. m. linearis Smith, Nixon & Smith, 1950
Mexican blackbelly garter snake, T. m. melanogaster (Wiegmann, 1830)
Etymology
The specific name melanogaster is composed of two Greek words, melanos, which means black and gaster, which means belly.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Blackbelly Garter Snake
- Is the Blackbelly Garter Snake venomous?
- No. The Blackbelly Garter Snake (Thamnophis melanogaster) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Blackbelly Garter Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Blackbelly Garter Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Blackbelly Garter Snake dangerous?
- The Blackbelly Garter Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Blackbelly Garter Snake live?
- The Blackbelly Garter Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Blackbelly Garter Snake?
- Slender body with three light stripes running the length of a darker back.
- How big does the Blackbelly Garter Snake get?
- Slender, 1.5–3 ft.
- What does the Blackbelly Garter Snake eat?
- These snakes feed exclusively under water and they are the only known Thamnophis to prey on soft-bodied crayfish. They have a highly variable diet that also includes fish, frogs, tadpoles, leeches, and earthworms. Good underwater vision and chemical cues help the snakes find and capture their prey.
- Why is it called the Blackbelly Garter Snake?
- The specific name melanogaster is composed of two Greek words, melanos, which means black and gaster, which means belly.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Western Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans
Western Ribbon SnakeThamnophis proximus
Northwestern Garter SnakeThamnophis ordinoides
Common Ribbon SnakeThamnophis saurita
Plains Garter SnakeThamnophis radix
Checkered Garter SnakeThamnophis marcianus
Black-necked Garter SnakeThamnophis cyrtopsis
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Thamnophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Thamnophis melanogaster
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.