Texas Garter Snake

Taxobox
name = Texas Garter Snake

---

image_caption = Texas Garter Snake, "Thamnophis sirtalis annectens"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Colubridae
genus = "Thamnophis"
species = "T. sirtalis"
subspecies = "T. s. annectens"
trinomial = "Thamnophis sirtalis annectens"
trinomial_authority = Brown, 1950

The Texas Garter Snake ("Thamnophis sirtalis annectens") is a subspecies of the common garter snake ("T. sirtalis") from the United States. It is found predominantly in eastern and central Texas, with a disjunct population in Kansas. They are a terrestrial species, generally found in dry, lightly wooded areas.

Completely harmless, and members of the colubrid family, they are easily mistaken for other garter snake species. They have a greenish-black back with a distinctive bright orange or red stripe down the center and yellowish stripes on either side of the body.

They are generally not aggressive, and if handled will often flail about wildly to try and escape and release a foul smelling musk from their cloaca.

References