Sumichrast's Garter Snake

About the Sumichrast's Garter Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Sumichrast's Garter Snake

Is the Sumichrast's Garter Snake venomous?

No. The Sumichrast's Garter Snake (Thamnophis sumichrasti) 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 Sumichrast's Garter Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sumichrast's Garter Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Sumichrast's Garter Snake dangerous?

The Sumichrast's Garter Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Sumichrast's Garter Snake live?

The Sumichrast's Garter Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Mexico, Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.

How do I identify the Sumichrast's Garter Snake?

Slender body with three light stripes running the length of a darker back.

How big does the Sumichrast's Garter Snake get?

Slender, 1.5–3 ft.

Why is it called the Sumichrast's Garter Snake?

The specific name sumichrasti is in honor of the Swiss-born Mexican naturalist Adrien Jean Louis François Sumichrast (1828–1882).

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Common Garter Snake
  Thamnophis sirtalis
• 
  Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
  Thamnophis elegans
• 
  Western Ribbon Snake
  Thamnophis proximus
• 
  Northwestern Garter Snake
  Thamnophis ordinoides
• 
  Common Ribbon Snake
  Thamnophis saurita
• 
  Plains Garter Snake
  Thamnophis radix
• 
  Checkered Garter Snake
  Thamnophis marcianus
• 
  Black-necked Garter Snake
  Thamnophis 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 sumichrasti

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.