Garter snake identification gets a good deal of attention because they inhabit backyards and multiple grass habitats throughout North America. In short, the snake in the grass raises people’s curiosity.
Their propensity to inhabit residential areas explains the common name, garden snake. Whatever the common name, garter snake identification ofen starts by noting the thin and often colorfully striped body.
Depending on the source, up to sixteen different species are recognized. Apart from those with unusual field markings, multiple, similar looking species, occupy overlapping territory in many areas, creating potential identification challenges.
That particular garter snake identification problem does not apply to the Giant Garter Snake (Thamnophis gigas) pictured at the top of this page. Growing up to five feet in length, it ranks as the largest garter snake and one of the longest native snakes regardless of family.
The remainder of this article provides pictures and identification tips covering many garter snakes.
Visitors interested in addition snake identification help are invited to press the green snakes button at the top of the article.
Garter snake identification can also be a fun activity because they are not aggressive snakes and taking the time to look at one means little personal harm to the observer. Their body color can range from blue, prominent in Florida blue garter snakes, to the many shades of red visible in West Coast species.
The Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) in the picture is a rather bland looking species and easy to identify basically because it’s the primary species in most East Coast states.
Bluestrip Garter snakes in Florida live mostly in the Gulf Coast region.
The above picture shows a close up of a Common Garter Snake with numbers from 1-7 printed on the upper labial scales. That physical characteristic is usually, but not always sufficient to differentiate it from other species.
Compare Common Garter snakes with the snake in the next picture, the Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans). The picture shows a snake with eight upper labial scales.
Aquatic Garter Snakes (Thamnophis atratus atrastas) are a Western specialty with a presence in California and Oregon.
Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) has a small range, limited to Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio.
Like all garter snakes, they have stripes down the body. Unlike most garter snakes they have a very pronounced checkered pattern complimenting the stripes. It’s hard to misidentify them.
Most of the sixteen garter snake species are recorded in Southwest and Western states. Checkered Garter snakes are mostly a Texas species. However there are smaller populations in California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Like all garter snakes, they have stripes down the body. Unlike most garter snakes they have a very pronounced checkered pattern complimenting the stripes. It’s hard to misidentify them.
The black-necked gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis) is typically described as a Southwest species. Their range extends from Texas to California along the border. Some neighboring states such as Oklahoma and Ut ah.
Subspecies have slight color differences. The presence of the black color on the neck unites them.
The Northwestern garter snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) are another West Coast specialty with a presence in Washington, Oregon and California. The red stripe down the middle of the body.
Three different subspecies of Western Terrestrial Garter Snakes (Thamnophis elegans) inhabit western North America.
The picture shows a typical wandering garter snake skin pattern, characterized by the light color stripes. A close up picture would show the snake’s eight upper labial scales, typical of all Thamnophis elegans subspecies.
Valley Garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi), one of a handful of T. sirtalis subspecies, shows a light cream or white color on the lower jaw, followed sometimes with a red spot on the neck.
Without seeing the lower portion of the jaw, the Valley garter might be mistaken for other dark headed species.
Ribbon snakes refers to a group of snakes in the genus Thamnophis, differentiated by the presence of longer tails and a light patch in front of the eye.
Two ribbon snakes, the Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus) and the Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) inhabit North America, each with geographically identified subspecies. The picture shows a Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus orarius), one of the six different subspecies of the Western Ribbon Snake.
Ribbon snakes refers to a group of snakes in the genus Thamnophis, differentiated by the presence of longer tails and a light patch in front of the eye. Eastern Ribbon Snakes (Thamnophis sauritus) share those same physical features.
The Eastern Ribbon Snake has a distinct pattern on the body as well as the common stripes.