Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a beautiful garter that I was told is a western terrestrial, but he expressed some level of doubt, and my own experience is not enough to either confirm or negate that assumption. What are some of the major differences that I could look for to distinguish a Western Terrestrial from its subspecies, the Wandering? I'd really appreciate any help I can get.

A Wandering Garter is a Western Terrestrial as are the other subspecies of Thamnophis elegans. There are basically four subspecies generally recognized at the present but there are lists that recognize two, three and seven. Overall there have been up to eight subspecies. There are three that you are probably most concerned with.

T. e. vagrans, Wandering Garter Snake: The most wide spread spp.
T. e. elegans, Mountain Garter Snake: a very dark colored snake in Calif and Oregon.

These two are considered by some to be the only actual subspecies.

T. e. terrestris, Coast Garter Snake: Usually with more red than the others they can be quite variable. They are found along a coastal strip of Calif and Oregon. Recently it has been suggested that this is not a separate subspecies based on DNA studies. I do not know if these would now be T. e. vagrans or not. The average terrestris looks unique from the average vagrans.

The above are the most consistently classified subspecies in the United States.

T. e. arizonae, Arizona Garter Snake: Parts of Az and NM this subspecies was short lived and is now declassified. They are now lumped in with vagrans.

T. e. vascotanneri, Upper Basin Garter Snake: Found in parts of E Utah. This taxon was also declassified and is not part of the vagrans ssp.

T. e. biscutatus, Klamath Garter Snake: Controversial subspecies that has basically been declassified. It is perhaps an intergrade between elegans and vagrans.

T. e. hueyi, San Pedro Martir Garter Snake: Found in Baja Calif.

T. e. errans Mexican Wandering Garter Snake: Found in Mexico this is now classified as a separate species T errans.

It would help if we had a picture and some locality data for your snake. It is probably a Wandering as these are most common but it may also be a Coast. Mountain Garters have a definitive appearance. I presently have vagrans, terrestris and elegans in my collection. I find the species and vagrans in particular to be among the most enjoyable Garters to keep.

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Randy Hallman

Large Wandering Garter Snake from the Coconino National Forest in Arizona. This animal was found on a high use trail in a riparian habitat. They are more terrestrial than many Garter species often being found in forest and meadow areas away from any stream or water source. This individual resembles what was previously known as the Arizona Garter. This animal was released where found immediately after the pictures were taken.

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Randy Hallman

These two were found (with many others) in the Mountains of Eastern Utah (La Sal). The habitat was a meadow with a semi-permanent pond. The pond was devoid of fish but did harbor Leopard Frogs. These pics were taken in July 2004. No tadpoles present. I am not sure of the elevation but the area has snow much of the year. None were collected.

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Randy Hallman

Did you get photos of the Northern leopard frogs? If so, could you post them?

Thanks

Here is a pic of one of the frogs from the meadow. I will check on any others that may be worth posting and maybe put them in the appropriate forum.

Thank you for your interest.

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Randy Hallman

Thanks Randy, I am a native frog nut as well as a garter nut.

No problem. In the next few days I am planning to post a few pics of frogs from Arizona. I will probably post them in the Amphibians-General forum.
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Randy Hallman

Let me know when you do, because the garter and cyclura/ctenosaura forums are the only ones I regularly visit.
Thanks-----------MM

This snake was found at a large cattle tank. The elevation was much lower and the habitat was upper desert. This snake appears gravid and was not collected. Pictured also is the habitat where she was found. I also found a hide from a Mountain Lion at the location. I would have preferred seeing the hide while still on it’s previous owner.

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Randy Hallman