Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
- GenusThamnophis (Garter Snakes)
- SpeciesThamnophis sirtalis (Common Garter Snake)
About the Common Garter Snake
The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to North America and found widely across the continent. There are several recognized subspecies. Most common garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a black, brown or green background, and their average total length (including tail) is about 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of about 137 cm (54 in). The average body mass is 150 g (5.3 oz). The common garter snake is the state reptile of Massachusetts.
The subspecific name fitchi is in honor of the American herpetologist Henry Sheldon Fitch. The subspecific name pickeringii is in honor of the American naturalist Charles E. Pickering. Current scientific classification recognizes 12 subspecies (ordered by date):
A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Thamnophis. Common garter snakes are thin snakes. Few grow over about 4 ft (1.2 m) long, and most stay smaller. Most have longitudinal stripes in many different colors. Common... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Garter Snake in Yosemite National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Yosemite National Park
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
Western Aquatic Garter Snake
Thamnophis couchii
California Mountain Kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
Striped Racer
Masticophis lateralis
Ringneck Snake
Diadophis punctatus
Sharp-tailed Snake
Contia tenuis
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
Coast Night Snake
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wood Buffalo National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Isle Royale National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Point Pelee National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Congaree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Garter Snake in Yosemite National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Garter Snake sighting in Yosemite National Park, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Garter Snake in Yosemite National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Common Garter Snake in Yosemite National Park in our monthly data.