Posted by:
rhallman
at Sat Sep 3 17:41:42 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by rhallman ]
First of all keep in mind they are a subspecies of the Common Garter Thamnophis sirtalis. Which subspecies depends on which taxonomy list you use as there have been recent changes. Let us stick with a few of the subspecies in question.
Oregon Red-Spotted - T s concinnus (found in Oregon)
San Francisco - T s tetrataenia (Federally protected)
California Red-Sided - T s infernalis
Red-Sided - T s parietalis
Pugent Sound - T s pickeringii
Valley - T s fitchi (found in Oregon)
The recent taxonomical change combines the Red-Spotted and California Red-Sided subspecies into a single subspecies under the name T s concinnus and changes T s tetrataenia to T s infernalis ( the former name of the Calif Red-Sided). This eliminates the T s tetrataenia designation all together though the San Francisco subspecies is still recognized. These new taxonomical designations are based on an original type specimen named Coluber infernalis which has more recently been determined to be the San Francisco subspecies. I am not sure why this new configuration determined the Red-Spotted and Calif. Red-Sided to be a single subspecies. This new revision is in academic use but is not universally accepted and further research is under way. The Stebbins Field Guide uses the older classifications and they are also my preference. I keep both the Red-Spotteds and I have a California Red-Sided.
As you can see there are several possibilities for what is a Red-Spotted or a Red-Sided Garter. Both taxonomic lists place two T sirtalis subspecies in Oregon. These are T s concinnus and T s fitchi. If you accept the school that separates the Oregon red-Spotted from the California Red-Sided then your snakes are the Oregon Red-Spotted T s concinnus. If you accept the new school of thought then they are still concinnus but their common name would most likely be simply Red-Spotted or else California Red-Sided (to distinguish it from T s parietalis). The new list I referenced did not use common names for any subspecies.
Bottom Line: (Red-Spotted) T s concinnus.
They are great snakes and mine all do well on mice except my new borns still on guppies. Yours look to have nice coloration. You took some great photos and I am sure I am not alone in appreciating your sharing them.
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Randy Hallman
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RE: Oregon Red Spot, or Red Sided? *pics* - rhallman, Sat Sep 3 17:41:42 2005