California Red Sided Garter Snake Habitat
The garter snakes are named as the official reptile of the us state of massachusetts.
California red sided garter snake habitat. Most california red sided garter snakes have a pattern of blue stripes on a black and red background. This website is designed to explore the ecology physiology and evolution of the california red sided garter snake click the. California gartersnakes are medium sized slender snakes with a head barely wider than the neck and scales on the back which are keeled having a ridge lengthwise on each scale. Common gartersnakes in southern california have been treated as a unique taxon by the state of california that is different from t.
California red sided snake like every other animal on this planet has both its predators and its prey. Keeled scales most species have a stripe on top of the back and on the bottom of each side but on some species this stripe is faint or absent and sometimes the side stripes are absent. It can be occasionally found in the parks and gardens. Their average total length is about 55 cm 22 in with a maximum total length of about 100 cm 39 in.
California red sided garter snakes are predators and prey. They use quick reflexes and paralyze their prey by biting with their sharp teeth. These are necessary for the balance of an ecosystem and how it runs. For example sometimes the california red sided garter snake is more prominently black than red.
These variations mean it can be easy to mistake this snake for one of its relations. People often mistake the california red sided garter snake for a san francisco garter snake. It will most likely not hurt you but they are gorgeous and still creepy. Also patterns vary somewhat within a snake species.
There is often some overlap between their two patterns. Stanford is within this intergrade zone. The intergrade populations are not considered to be either the red sided. The red garter snake is not huge and is not venomous.
The length of the garter snake varies from 46 to 137cm. Traffic accidents and seasonal flooding and freezing of their underground dens are major threats for the survival of red sided garter snakes in the wild. The red sided garter snakes are commonly kept as pets. To hunt their prey garter snakes use peering stretching and ambushing techniques.
Infernalis the california red sided gartersnake. If you know anything about snakes you most likely know about the big venomous kind today you will expand your understanding of snakes. Endemic to north and central america species in the genus thamnophis can be found from the subarctic plains of canada to costa ricathe common garter snake thamnophis sirtalis is the state reptile of massachusetts. Despite these factors population of red sided garter snakes is large and stable.
These snakes are called thamnophis sirtalis ssp. Red sided garter snake inhabits woodlands grasslands farmlands hillsides marshes and areas near the streams and ponds. Garter snake is a common name for the generally harmless small to medium sized snakes belonging to the genus thamnophis. The south coast gartersnake.