Garter Snake

Garter snake or the genus Thamnophis is also referred to as grass snake, any of up to 35 species of nonvenomous North American snakes with a striped pattern (striped snake) suggesting a garter: there are usually one or three longitudinal yellow to red bands, with checkered patches (checkered garter snake) in between. Forms, where the stripes are obscure or lacking, are often known as grass snakes. A few classifications vary as to the number of species since the garter snakes show only slight differences in their scales but considerable geographic variations in coloration. In several areas from Canada to Central America, they are defined as the most common serpent.

About Garter Snake

Garter snakes look small to moderate in size (eastern garter snake size) - usually below 100 cm (39 in) long and quite harmless. They struggle and discharge a foul secretion from the anal gland if handled; a few will strike. The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), the most extensively distributed reptile in North America, is believed to be one of the more protective species. The ribbon snake (also called T. sauritus), slender and small, is a strongly striped snake form. Garter snakes chiefly live on earthworms, insects, and amphibians; the western ribbon snake (T. Proximus) is especially fond of frogs. They do not lay eggs, but in general, they breed in early spring and give birth in the late summer.

A common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is probably the most widely distributed reptile in North America, as shown below.

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By 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) had examined 31 species of garter snakes, with the majority of them being categorised as species of least concern. The 4 garter snakes are threatened; the IUCN classifies T. Salinger of central Mexico, including the giant garter snake (T. gigas) of Central Valley of California as vulnerable species and T. melanogaster, T. mendax, both of central Mexico, as endangered species.

Habitat

Garter snakes(checkered garter snake) may be found in almost every area of North America. They contain a wide distribution because of their adaptability and varied diets to different habitats, with differential proximity to water; however, in the western part of the North American regions, these snakes are more aquatic compared to the eastern portion.

Garter snakes populate a wide range of habitats, including woodlands, forests, fields, lawns and grasslands, but never far away from a few forms of water, often an adjacent wetland, pond or stream. This reflects the known fact that amphibians are given as a large part of their diet. Often, the garter snakes are found near small ponds having tall weeds.

Taxonomy

The first garter snake, which is to be identified as the eastern garter snake (now called Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), by the taxonomist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Thamnophis is the genus for ribbon snakes and garter snakes, first established by Leopold Fitzinger in 1843. Previously, several snakes identified as their own species or genera have been reclassified as subspecies or species in Thamnophis. Currently, there are 35 species within the genus, with many subspecies within a few of them.

Behavior

Garter snakes contain complex systems of pheromonal communication. They may find other snakes by following their pheromone-scented trail types. Male and female skin pheromones are so different that they may be easily distinguished. However, male garter snakes, at times, produce both male and female pheromones. This specific talent deceives other males into seeking to mate with them throughout the mating season.

This might cause the transfer of heat to them in kleptothermy, which is an advantage immediately after hibernation, allowing them to become active. Male snakes that emit both male and female pheromones have been shown to attract more copulations in mating balls, which develop at the den when females enter the mating frenzy than regular males.

Garter snakes normally use the vomeronasal organ to communicate via pheromones through the tongue flicking behavior that gathers chemical cues in the environment. Upon entering the organ's lumen, the chemical molecules will come into closer contact with the sensory cells that are attached to the neurosensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ.

The posterior tooth of a garter snake is shown below.

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The garter snake may coil and attack if startled, although it usually hides its head and flails its tail. These snakes also secrete a foul-smelling, musky-scented fluid from a gland near the cloaca. When ensnared by a predator, they often use these techniques to escape. Also, they will slither into the water to escape a predator on land. Crows, hawks, herons, egrets, raccoons, cranes, otters, including other snake species (such as kingsnakes and coral snakes), will eat the garter snakes, with even frogs and shrews eating the juveniles.

Being heterothermic, like all the reptiles, garter snakes bask in the sun in order to regulate their body temperature. During the brumation (the reptile equivalent of hibernation), garter snakes typically occupy a large, communal site known as hibernacula. To brumate, these snakes will travel long distances.

Diet

Like all snakes, garter snakes are carnivorous. Earthworms, slugs (nightcrawlers, as red wigglers, are poisonous to garter snakes), lizards, leeches, amphibians (including frog eggs), rats, and minnows are among the creatures they consume. They will eat other aquatic animals when living near water. The ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus) specifically favors frogs (including tadpoles), readily eating them despite their strong chemical defenses and the food is swallowed whole. Often, the garter snakes adapt to eating whenever they can find and whatever they can find because food can be either scarce or abundant. Although they feed mostly on the live animals, sometimes, they will eat eggs.

Venom

Garter snakes were long and thought to be nonvenomous, but discoveries in the early 2000s have revealed that, in fact, they produce a neurotoxic venom. Despite this, the garter snakes cannot injure or kill humans seriously with the small amounts of comparatively mild venom they produce, and also, they lack an effective means of delivering it. In some cases, a few swelling and bruising have also been reported. They do have enlarged teeth in the back of their mouth, but their gums are significantly larger, and the secretions of Duvernoy's gland are only mildly toxic.

Evidence suggests that the garter snake, including newt populations, share an evolutionary link in their tetrodotoxin resistance levels, implying the coevolution between prey and predator. Also, Garter snakes feeding upon the toxic newts can retain those toxins in their liver for weeks, making those snakes poisonous and venomous (which are called eastern garter snake venomous) as well.

Conservation Status

Despite the decline in their population from as the pets collection (especially in the more northerly regions, where large groups are collected at hibernation), pollution of the aquatic areas, and the introduction of American bullfrogs as potential predators, still, the garter snakes are a few of the most commonly found reptiles in much of their ranges. The San Francisco garter snake (called Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia), however, is defined as an endangered subspecies and has been on the endangered list since 1969. Also, the Predation by crayfish has been responsible for the decline of the narrow-headed garter snake (which is called Thamnophis rufipunctatus).

Common Garter Snake

The common garter snake (called Thamnophis sirtalis) is defined as a species of natricine snake, which is indigenous to North America and found widely across the continent. Most common garter snakes contain a pattern of yellow stripes on a brown, black, or green background, and their average total length (including the tail) is around 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of around 137 cm (54 in). The average body mass is given as 150 g (5.3 oz). Common garter snakes are defined as the state reptile of Massachusetts.

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Description

Common garter snakes are thin snakes. Some grow over up to 4 ft (1.2 m) long, and most stay smaller. At the same time, most hold longitudinal stripes in several different (different types of garter snakes) colors. Common garter snakes usually come in a wide range of colors, including blue, green, gold, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black.

Life History

The common garter snake is the diurnal snake. It is most active in the morning and late afternoon in the summer; in cooler climes or seasons, it is only active in the warm afternoons.

Whereas, in warmer southern areas, the snake will be active year-round; otherwise, it sleeps in the common dens, at times, in great numbers. On warm winter afternoons, a few snakes have been noticed emerging from their hibernacula to bask in the sun.

Venom

Tetrodotoxin Effects in Garter Snakes

The saliva of a common garter snake can be toxic to amphibians and other small animals. Garter snakes contain a mild venom in their saliva. For humans, a bite is not said to be dangerous, though it can cause slight burning, itching, and/or swelling. Also, the common garter snakes may secrete a foul-smelling fluid from the postanal glands when harmed or handled.

Common garter snakes are resistant to the naturally found poisons such as that of the American rough and toad-skinned newt, the latter of which may kill a human if ingested. They hold the ability to absorb the toxin from the newts into their bodies, making them poisonous that can deter potential predators.

The common garter snake uses toxicity for both defense and offense. Whereas, on the offensive side, the venom of a snake can be toxic to a few of its smaller prey, such as mice and other rodents. Whereas, on the defensive side, the snake uses its resistance to toxicity to provide an essential antipredator capability. A study on the evolutionary development of tetrodotoxin resistance compared to two populations of Thamnophis and then tested inside the population of T. sirtalis. Those, which were exposed to and lived in a similar environment as the newts (called Taricha granulosa) that produce tetrodotoxin when eaten were more immune to the toxin.

While the resistance to tetrodotoxin is beneficial in acquiring new prey, and the costs are associated with it. Consumption of the toxin can result in decreased speed and, in some cases, no movement for lengthy periods of time, as well as poor thermoregulation. The antipredator display as this species uses demonstrates the idea of an "arms race" between different species to their antipredator displays.

Along the entire geographical interaction of T. sirtalis and T. granulosa, patches take place that corresponds to the strong coevolution and absent or weak coevolution as well. T. sirtalis populations that do not live in T. granulosa-infested areas had the lowest levels of tetrodotoxin resistance, whereas those that do live in comparable locations have the greatest levels of tetrodotoxin resistance. In populations where the tetrodotoxin is not present in T. granulosa, resistance in T. sirtalis is selected due to the reason that mutation causes lower average population fitness. This helps to maintain the polymorphism within garter snake populations.