Plains Garter Snake

The plains garter snake

The plains garter snake ( Thamnophis Radix ) is one of about 30 currently recognized species of garter snakes. It is also known under the name lowlands garter snake.

Features

The plains garter snake is mostly dark brown to almost black. Characteristic are its yellowish to orange -colored back stripe and cream-colored or gray side stripes. The bright abdomen may have a gray -green color.

It reaches a body length of 60 to a maximum of 100 cm ( females are larger than males ).

Their diet consists mainly of wild frogs, worms and slugs in the terrarium from nestling rodents and fish ( smelt).

It is viviparous with five to 30, rarely 50 young animals.

In addition to the original form of various color forms ( colors ) are of Thamnophis radix known and sought in breeding circles.

The controversial Thamnophis radix radix and distinction between a putative second subspecies Thamnophis radix haydeni (described by Kennicott 1860).

Dissemination

The plains garter snake has a large area of ​​distribution in North America: in the north to Canada, east to Ohio, south to Missouri and New Mexico.

As the name suggests, the prairie Strumpfbandnannter is often found in grasslands, as well as on fallow land, cropland and wetlands.