Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi:

This is my first post. I photographed a garter snake today, June 15, 2013 at the Dungeness NWR in Sequim, Clallam Co., Washington. The habitat is coniferous forest typical of the Pacific Northwest with Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Big Leaf Maple, etc. Can someone tell me if the snake is a Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) or Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). Are these scientific names currently valid or has the taxonomy changed? Thanks.

Looks to be a Northwestern Garter. I believe the taxonomy is still valid, but they see to change names lately almost as often as most change their socks.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

They can also be EXTREMELY variable. Here is a link to a cool poster depicting the many different phenotypes of Thamnophis ordinoides.
polymorphism in T.ordinoides

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks Doug. Can you state why you think it's a Northwestern?

Your specific area, and the brilliant orange in the vertibral dorsal stripe. Hard to say if some percentage of intergrade influence cannot be involved though.
another similar ordinoides

-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

.
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com