Plains Garter Snake

Thamnophis radix

The Plains Garter Snake is a friendly snake that loves to slither through grass and wetlands. They have beautiful stripes and are great at catching small bugs and frogs.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Plains Garter Snake has a brown, olive, or black body with three prominent yellow or orange stripes running lengthwise. A checkerboard pattern of dark spots often appears between the stripes. This combination makes it distinct from other garter snakes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderSerpentesFamilyColubridaeGenusThamnophis

Plains Garter Snake

Interesting facts

Plains Garter Snakes are not venomous to humans, making them safe to observe!

Their forked tongue 'tastes' the air, helping them find yummy food!

They give birth to live babies, not eggs, like a tiny snake factory!

They sometimes form huge groups called 'hibernacula' to sleep through winter together!

Special abilities

Plains Garter Snakes can release a foul-smelling musk because it helps them deter predators when feeling threatened.

Plains Garter Snakes have a natural resistance to the mild venom of some prey, allowing them to hunt more easily.

Plains Garter Snakes can unhinge their jaws, allowing them to swallow prey much larger than their head!

Plains Garter Snakes can brumate by slowing their body functions, helping them survive cold winter months.

Measurements & details

Length: 38-71 cm
Weight: 0.05-0.2 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Top Speed: 5 km/h
Swim Speed: 1.5 km/h
Clutch Size: 5-60

Diet & Feeding

This snake is a hunter that eats small creatures like frogs, earthworms, and mice.

Primary Foods

earthworms
frogs
toads
slugs
small fish
mice

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Leopard Frog

Rana pipiens

A common prey item in their wetland habitats.

eats

Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

A primary food source, especially for younger snakes.

eats

Meadow Vole

Microtus pennsylvanicus

Often preyed upon in grassy habitats.

eaten by

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

A common aerial predator of garter snakes.

Traits

Striped

Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.