Garter / Ribbon snake
Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake
HarmlessThamnophis copei
The Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake (Thamnophis copei) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- 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 Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake
Thamnophis copei, Cope's mountain meadow snake, is a vulnerable species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species was originally described by Alfredo Dugès in 1897, and is endemic to Mexico. It is the type species of the genus Adelophis Dugès, 1879.
Description
Thamnophis copei is a small and moderately slender snake that has a maximum total length (including tail) of 392 mm (15.4 in). The tail is about one fifth of the total length.
Habitat and geographic range
Thamnophis copei lives in the wetlands of west-central Mexico, in such areas in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and northern Morelos.
Conservation status
Thamnophis copei is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture and human settlement. Mexico has placed national laws protecting the species, and the species is being researched for more ways to protect it. It is protected in the Sierra Los Huicholes reserve.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake
- Is the Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake venomous?
- No. The Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake (Thamnophis copei) 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 Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake dangerous?
- The Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- How do I identify the Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake?
- Slender body with three light stripes running the length of a darker back.
- How big does the Cope's Mountain Meadow Snake get?
- Slender, 1.5–3 ft.
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 copei
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.