Garter / Ribbon snake
West Coast Garter Snake
HarmlessThamnophis validus
6 photographs of the West Coast Garter Snake. © Sinaloa Silvestre.
The West Coast Garter Snake (Thamnophis validus) 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 West Coast Garter Snake
The West Coast garter snake (Thamnophis validus), also known commonly as Kennicott's water snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico. Four subspecies are recognized.
Geographic range
T. validus is found in the Mexican states of Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Jalisco, and Sonora.
Reproduction
T. validus is viviparous.
Subspecies
There are four subspecies of T. validus which are recognized as being valid, including the nominate subspecies.
T. v. celaeno (Cope, 1861) – cape garter snake, Mexican Pacific lowlands garter snake
T. v. isabelleae (Conant, 1953)
T. v. thamnophisoides (Conant, 1961)
T. v. validus (Kennicott, 1860)
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Thamnophis.
Etymology
The subspecific name isabelleae is in honor of the American wildlife artist Isabelle Hunt Conant, the wife of the American herpetologist Roger Conant.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: West Coast Garter Snake
- Is the West Coast Garter Snake venomous?
- No. The West Coast Garter Snake (Thamnophis validus) 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 West Coast Garter Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The West Coast Garter Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the West Coast Garter Snake dangerous?
- The West Coast Garter Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the West Coast Garter Snake live?
- The West Coast Garter Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Mexico, United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the West Coast Garter Snake?
- Slender body with three light stripes running the length of a darker back.
- How big does the West Coast Garter Snake get?
- Slender, 1.5–3 ft.
- Why is it called the West Coast Garter Snake?
- The subspecific name isabelleae is in honor of the American wildlife artist Isabelle Hunt Conant, the wife of the American herpetologist Roger Conant.
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 validus
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.