The Red-Sided Garter T s parietalis and the Eastern Garter T s sirtalis are both subspecies of the common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis. There are currently 11 recognized subspecies of this snake. 4 of these subspecies do range into Canada but none are predominantly found there. There are no species or subspecies of Garter Snakes found exclusively in Canada. The “Flame” Garters found in S Ontario are a morph of the Eastern Garter and not a recognized subspecies or species. More than half of the range of the Red-Sided Garter is in the United States.



I do not know what articles you are referring to but I believe you misunderstood them in terms of what they were classifying. It might be that the article was referring to a particular part of Canada where the only Garter Snake found is the Red-Sided. Perhaps the article was about the communal hibernation of Red-Sided Garters in S Canada. It is hard to imagine any article being so much in error it listed the range of the Red-Sided Garters as only being in Canada. I believe there is actually a location for this subspecies in Mexico.



I am confidant you have an Eastern Garter. The snake taxonomically classified as the Red-Sided Garter Snake is not found in Michigan. Eastern Garters may have red in their side coloration but they are not Red-Sided Garters. If you found a T s parietalis in Michigan it would have escaped from someone. Here is a web site I found that lists the snakes found in Michigan.



http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/7416/mi.html
-----
Randy Hallman

[ Hide Replies ]

• confusing articles - eatinmachine, Tue Aug 2 14:39:25 2005
• mistaken identity perhaps - rhallman, Tue Aug 2 21:28:31 2005
• confused - eatinmachine, Wed Aug 3 15:53:33 2005
• RE: confused - TomDickinson, Wed Aug 3 17:02:20 2005
• RE: confused - rhallman, Wed Aug 3 17:16:34 2005
• I did read it wrong more... - eatinmachine, Thu Aug 4 17:09:26 2005
• RE: I did read it wrong more... - ssssnakeluver, Thu Aug 4 18:49:37 2005