The Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) is a medium-sized non-venomous snake that is native to North America. Its scientific name 'Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis' is a combination of Ancient Greek and New Latin that means "bush snake that looks like a garter strap on".
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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OvoviviparousOvoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous an...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
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Non-venomousSo
SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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starts withEastern garter snakes are greenish, brown, or black in color and have a distinct yellow or white stripe. Their belly is cream to yellowish-green. Females in this species are typically larger than males.
Eastern garter snakes have a wide range across eastern North America, going as far north as southern Ontario and Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico in the south, along the eastern shores of America to the Mississippi River. In New England, the snake is described as the "most widespread and ubiquitous" serpent. Eastern garter snakes live in a variety of environments, with a preference for forests, and grassy or shrubby fields, including abandoned farmland, outbuildings, and trash dumps. In particular, they like to inhabit stone walls that separate the forest from fields. They are also found along moist habitats such as lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, bogs, ponds, drainage ditches, and quarries. Snakes are present in urban environments in habitats that include "city parks, cemeteries, and suburban yards and gardens".
Eastern garter snakes are terrestrial and can be active both during the day or night. They like to conceal themselves under logs, stones, and other debris that allow them to bask in the sunlight and quickly seek refuge from predators. These snakes can be aggressive and will strike or bite. If threatened, they will release a foul-smelling musk. Eastern garter snakes are generally solitary but may gather in groups when they brumate (similar to hibernation); during brumation, snakes are mostly asleep but still can wake up to drink water. They brumate in large groups during the winter in their dens which are usually located in rock outcropping or even abandoned mammal burrows.
Eastern garter snakes are carnivores. They mostly eat toads, frogs, slugs, and worms, but will eat almost anything that they can overpower.
Eastern garter snakes are polygynandrous (promiscuous) which means that both males and females mate with multiple partners. Their breeding season occurs in spring soon after emergence from hibernation and in the fall. Many males may try to mate with one female, resulting in a "breeding ball". Females give birth to a litter of 10-40 live snakelets. Gestation lasts around 2-3 months. The young are 13-23 cm (5-9 in) long at birth and are fully independent of their mother. Males usually become reproductively mature at 1.5 years of age while females reach maturity when they are 2 years old.
There are no major threats to Eastern garter snakes at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Eastern garter snake total population size. Presently, this subspecies is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
