Garter Snake

Garter Snake
Garter Snake

Garter Snake

Garter Snake




The Garter snake is a Colubrid snake genus (Thamnophis) common across North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada to Central America. It is the single most widely distributed genus of reptile in North America.

There is no real consensus on the classification of species of Thamnophis and disagreement among taxonomists and sources, such as field guides, over whether two types of snakes are separate species or subspecies of the same species is common. They are also closely related to the snakes of the genus Nerodia, and some species have been moved back and forth between genera

Garter snake is same with name "Garden" Snake.
Garter snakes, like all snakes, are carnivorous. Their diet consists of almost all the creatures that they are able to conquer: slugs, earthworms, leeches, lizards, amphibians, birds, fish, frogs and rats. While living near the water, they will eat other aquatic animals. Ribbon snakes in particular favors frogs (including tadpoles), ready to eat them despite their strong chemical defenses. Food is swallowed whole. Garter snakes often adapt to eating whatever they can find, and at any time, because food can be scarce or abundant. Although they feed mostly on living animals, they will sometimes eat eggs.

If disturbed, garter snake may coil and strike, but usually will hide his head and hit his tail. These snakes will also discharge secretion, foul smelling musky smell from glands near the anus. They often use techniques to escape when ensnared by a predator. They will also be rolled into the water to escape predators on land. Hawks, crows, raccoons, crayfish and other snake species (such as king snakes and coral snake) will eat garter snakes, even with Rats and frogs eat adolescents.

Garte snake in ago was considered nonvenomous, but recent findings have revealed that they actually produce a mild neurotoxic venom.

Garter snake still is not harmful to humans because a number of very low toxicity they produce, which is relatively mild, and the fact that they have no effective means to deliver it.
Source Wikipedia