The plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix ) is a species of garter snake native to most of the central United States as far north as Canada and as far south as Texas. It has a distinctive orange or yellow stripe from its head to tail, and the rest of its body is mainly a gray-green color. The snake is commonly found living near water sources such as streams and ponds, but can also be found in urban areas and vacant lots. Although the IUCN lists the species as "Least Concern", some states have given it their own special status. This species is mildly venomous, although the venom is not toxic to humans.
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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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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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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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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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PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
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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...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
Venom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
Mildly venomous animals produce venom, which they use to kill or disable prey, defend themselves from predators or conspecifics, or in agonistic en...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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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 withThe Plains garter snake is a slender, medium-sized snake native to the United States and Canada. This species is mildly venomous, although the venom is not toxic to humans. The Plains garter snake has a distinctive orange or yellow stripe from its head to tail, and the rest of its body is mainly a gray-green color. There are also distinctive black bars on its lip. Its belly is gray-green with small dark spots along the edges. Most have distinctive light yellow spots on the top of the head.
Plains garter snakes are found across a broad area of North America from as far north as central Alberta to as far south as Northern Texas and New Mexico. In the United States, they are also found in Iowa, eastern Wyoming, northern Kentucky, eastern Colorado, Minnesota, southern Wisconsin, Illinois, northwestern Indiana, Oklahoma, Nebraska and the northern half of Missouri. A small population is also in Ohio. In Canada, the species is also found in Manitoba. These snakes live in meadows and prairies near to water sources, such as marshes, streams, and ponds. They can also be found in the pinyon-juniper zone, farmlands, abandoned buildings, trash heaps, and vacant lots.
Plains garter snakes are described as "one of the most cold-tolerant snakes"; on warmer winter days, they often come out of hibernation to bask in the sun. They are most active between April and late October depending on location. They prefer to lead a solitary life but will hibernate in small groups. Plains garter snakes are diurnal creatures, however, during the summer may become more nocturnal in order to avoid the heat of the day.
Plains garter snakes are carnivores. They feed on earthworms, fish, slugs, and small amphibians, including the larvae of salamanders. They also eat small mammals and birds, such as Bank swallows and Eastern meadowlarks.
Plains garter snakes are polygynandrous (promiscuous) and both males and females have multiple mates. They usually breed in April or May and birth takes place between August and October. Courtship usually occurs near the communal hibernation site. After a gestation period of 83-102 days, females give birth to 5-60 live young. Snakelets are independent at birth and become reproductively mature when they are 2-3 years old.
There are no major threats to Plains garter snakes at present.
According to IUCN, the Plains garter snake is locally common and widespread throughout its range with adult population size is unknown but undoubtedly exceeds 100,000, probably much more. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
These snakes are important predators of amphibians, earthworms, fish and other animals in their ecosystem.
