Texas Garter Snake

Common Name: Texas Garter Snake
Scientific Name : Thamnophis sirtalis annectens

 

 Description:

A Common Garter Snake sub-species, the Texas garter snake is a terrestrial snake. Their backs are green to black, with a distinctive stripe of red or orange, and either side features yellowish stripes. It stretches to about a hundred to a hundred and twenty centimeters long, and is described as a small to medium sized snake. The lifespan of the Texas Garter snake may quite often get to ten years, with the least being approximately six years, while in captivity.

Geographic Range:

This snake primarily occurs in the Central and Eastern parts of the American state of Texas, but also has an isolated population that occurs in Kansas.

Habitat:

This snake is generally observed in lightly wooded and dry areas. They are also spotted in urban locations, such as suburban areas that support cover, like under debris, rocks, logs and vegetation.

Behavior:

Completely placid, they are usually mistaken for other species of the garter species. While non-aggressive, when handled they tend to flail about in an attempt to escape, sometimes in tandem with releasing a fetid smell.

Reproduction:

Being ovoviviparous, the Texas Garter Snake bears live hatchlings. The gestation period lasts between two and three months. Litter sizes comprise between ten and forty young, who are brought forth in late July to mid October. The young of this snake look similar to the adults, and measure between twelve and a half to twenty three centimeters in length, but females are generally longer than males, who exhibit longer tails.

Captivity:

The diet of this snake consists of small amphibians, rodents, birds and earthworms while in the wild, but in captivity, it mainly feeds on live pinky mice. They have occupied quite a large area in Texas. For this reason, they are readily available. Texas Garter Snakes!