Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found this little guy this week in my garden. He's only 6-8 inches long and wasn't agressive. I didn't see any rattle on him either. Found at about 7,100 ft. elevation in the mountains east of Albuquerque, NM.

Any help identifying is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

My first guess is Checkered Garter Snake (Thamnophis marcianus).

I would have to agree, Checkered Garter. I do love Google, so here is a link.
Link

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1.0 Albino Bumese
1.0 Columbian Boa
1.0 Mexican King
1.1 Alterna Gray Bands
2.1 Speckled Kings (1 albino pair)
1.0 Melanistic? California King
1.1 Bull Snakes
1.1 Red Milks
1.1 Black Pines
1.0 Red Northern Pine
0.1 Mexican Black King
1.1 Bearded Dragon (13 eggs)
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko

You guys probably know more than I do, but I was going to say blackneck garter Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis.

Definately not a blackneck..........does'nt look like a checkered garter to me either .......don't know what it is...

from the shape of it head,body it looks like a racer , whipsnake or coachwhip but i don't know for sure

I believe what you have is a narrow-headed garter snake, Thamnophis rufipunctatus.
Jim McLean

That is a young Wandering Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans vagrans). They are quite common in the mountains of New Mexico.
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Chris Harrison

Its a eastern garter snake ( thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)

>>Its a eastern garter snake ( thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
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Chris Harrison

Definitely a Thamnophis elegans vagrans. The other species suggested look quite different and the picture is a typical example of a young Wandering Garter. Wandering Garters are also the only species in the area cited for this specimen. Black-Necked Garters come close to the area but again, they look quite different.

T elegans make great pets. They feed well, tame easily, and are rarely jittery as some species of Thamnophis can be. They are my personal favorites.
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Randy
Firehouse Herps