Garter / Ribbon snake
Mexican Wandering Garter Snake
HarmlessThamnophis errans
4 photographs of the Mexican Wandering Garter Snake. © Sinaloa Silvestre.
The Mexican Wandering Garter Snake (Thamnophis errans) 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 Mexican Wandering Garter Snake
The Mexican wandering garter snake (Thamnophis errans) is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. It is endemic to Mexico.
Taxonomy
Classification
This snake was first described as species new to science in 1942. Subsequently, some authors have noted similarities between northern populations of the Mexican wandering garter snake and the southern subspecies of the western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans vagrans), leading them to reclassify the former as another subspecies of the western terrestrial garter snake under the name Thamnophis elegans errans. However, a 280 km gap of uninhabitable low desert separates the ranges of the two populations. Additionally, even the closest populations of Mexican wandering and western terrestrial garter snakes are still morphologically separated by the number and arrangement of scales, as well as the color of the tongue. Presently, Thamnophis errans is considered a valid taxon.
Distribution and habitat
The Mexican wandering garter snake is endemic to Mexico, where it has been found in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Zacatecas. It has an extensive linear range in the pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental. When conditions allow, this species is widely dispersed within its range. It can be found near streams or ponds, but may also be found around rock piles or logs some distance from permanent water.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Mexican Wandering Garter Snake
- Is the Mexican Wandering Garter Snake venomous?
- No. The Mexican Wandering Garter Snake (Thamnophis errans) 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 Mexican Wandering Garter Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Mexican Wandering Garter Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Mexican Wandering Garter Snake dangerous?
- The Mexican Wandering Garter Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Mexican Wandering Garter Snake live?
- The Mexican Wandering Garter Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Mexican Wandering Garter Snake?
- Slender body with three light stripes running the length of a darker back.
- How big does the Mexican Wandering Garter Snake get?
- Slender, 1.5–3 ft.
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 errans
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.