San Francisco garter (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia)
Common garter (Thamnophis sirtalis) - intergrade species
Coast garter (Thamnophis elegans terrestris)
San Francisco garter (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia)
Common garter (Thamnophis sirtalis) - intergrade species
Coast garter (Thamnophis elegans terrestris)
Etymology: the genus name is derived from the Greek roots thamnos for bush and ophio for snake.
"Sirtalis" is derived from the Latin for garter and apparently refers to the dorsal stripe(s).
The subspecies name is derived from the Greek roots tetra for four and taenia for ribbon.
The latter is also a genus of tapeworm including several human pathogens.
OK, so this is not the greatest SF garter picture.
But it does have a great story. See below
(Also it is my first garter picture of the year.)
She claimed she looked carefully on her way out to the point, but did not see anything.
On the way back, her GPS on her phone started to give her audible instructions -
she realized she had forgotten to turn off the sound.
Her phone instructed her to go 1000 feet forward on the trail - which took her right back to the SF garter snake sign by the pond.
She figured she better carefully look again - and that is when she spotted it.
Año Nuevo
July 20 2014
Colubridae
Boidae
Viperidae
Elapidae
Misc
modified: February 27, 2015
created: February 24, 2015 (from snakes.html)
Contact: siegelr@stanford.edu
All pictures are protected by copyright. Do not use without permission.