Garter / Ribbon snake
Two-striped Garter Snake
HarmlessThamnophis hammondii
6 photographs of the Two-striped Garter Snake. © Jessica Carver.
The Two-striped Garter Snake (Thamnophis hammondii) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- 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 Two-striped Garter Snake
The two-striped garter snake (Thamnophis hammondii) is a species of aquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to western North America.
Taxonomy and etymology
The specific name hammondii is in honor of William A. Hammond, the U.S. Army surgeon who collected the first specimens.
Description
T. hammondii is a medium-sized snake, 18–30 in (46–76 cm) in total length (including tail), with a head barely wider than the neck. Two common color variations occur in the wild, a striped variant and a checkered variant. The striped variant has a yellowish lateral stripe on each side, and a fairly uniform dorsal coloring. The checkered variant lacks the lateral stripes and has two rows of small dark spots on each side.
Geographic range, habitat, and diet
The two-striped garter snake is found in western North America, ranging from central California to Baja California, Mexico. It is a highly aquatic species, and prefers habitat adjacent to permanent or semi-permanent bodies of water. This species feeds primarily on fishes and amphibians.
Reproduction
T. hammondii is ovoviviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Two-striped Garter Snake
- Is the Two-striped Garter Snake venomous?
- No. The Two-striped Garter Snake (Thamnophis hammondii) 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 Two-striped Garter Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Two-striped Garter Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Two-striped Garter Snake dangerous?
- The Two-striped Garter Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Two-striped Garter Snake live?
- The Two-striped Garter Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including United States of America, Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Two-striped Garter Snake?
- Slender body with three light stripes running the length of a darker back.
- How big does the Two-striped Garter Snake get?
- Slender, 1.5–3 ft.
- What does the Two-striped Garter Snake eat?
- The two-striped garter snake is found in western North America, ranging from central California to Baja California, Mexico. It is a highly aquatic species, and prefers habitat adjacent to permanent or semi-permanent bodies of water. This species feeds primarily on fishes and amphibians.
- Why is it called the Two-striped Garter Snake?
- The specific name hammondii is in honor of William A. Hammond, the U.S. Army surgeon who collected the first specimens.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
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 hammondii
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.