Fun Mountain Garter Snake Facts For Kids
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Most of us never fancy snakes. We run the moment we see one. Keeping aside the harm they cause they are actually fascinating creatures.
There are harmless snakes that do not cause much harm to humans. The garter snakes are one among them.
It is assumed that they evolved 40 million years ago. The natural history of these snakes was studied by using the first identified garter snake, the Eastern garter (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis). The garter snake is widely spread throughout America often kept as a pet due to its submissive nature.
One such species is the western terrestrial garter (Thamnophis elegans) which is spotted in western North America. It has five subspecies including the mountain garter snake.
This subspecies lives in the northern parts of America. They prey on reptiles and amphibians. The Thamnophis species is also called the North American garter as they are one of the best studies snakes in Northern America.
This snake got its name from a mix of greek and Latin words. In greek Thamnos means, shrub and ophis means serpent or reptiles, and sirtalis in Latin means garter. The funny theory as to why these snakes got the name is that the stripes on their body resemble garters that men wore to keep their socks up.
Keep reading to know more about the habitat, population, and other interesting facts about the mountain garter snake. Once you are done with this article do check out our other articles on Giant garter snakes and milk snakes.
Mountain Garter Snake Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a mountain garter snake?
The Thamnophis elegans elegans is a type of garter snake (Thamnophis) of the Colubridae family.
What class of animal does a mountain garter snake belong to?
This species is a member of the Reptilia class and a subspecies of the Western terrestrial garter snake(Thamnophis elegans).
How many mountain garter snakes are there in the world?
An estimation made by the IUCN revealed that the western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans) with a total of six subspecies including the mountain garter snakes has around 100,000 mature individuals.
Where does a mountain garter snake live?
These snakes live in the forests and wetlands of the Sierra Nevada mountains of North America.
What is a mountain garter snake's habitat?
Western terrestrial garter snakes are generally flexible in a variety of habitats. As the name suggests the mountain garter snake particularly favors mountains and is found near damp areas near the forest regions.
They inhabit places adjacent to natural water sources and hardly make it to drylands and meadows. Spotting this species in a river or lake is not uncommon. When in peril, the shy snakes hide under thick foilage and logs.
Who do mountain garter snakes live with?
This snake species is semi-solitary. There are times when they do socialize, but only when absolutely necessary, such as during hibernation. They are quite crowded during this time, with hundreds of them cooped up in rocky places, mostly dens.
How long does a mountain garter snake live?
The lifespan of all western terrestrial garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans) fluctuates based on their habitat and food availability. In the wild, particularly in the mountains, they can live up to three or four years. These snakes thrive in captivity, with their lifespan extending up to 12 years.
How do they reproduce?
The reproduction process of this species is quite unique. Unlike most snakes, this species is not oviparous.
They are ovoviviparous, which means they reproduce by giving birth to live offspring. Hibernation usually lasts throughout spring. There are reports of them hibernating in the fall.
The females start developing eggs around the end of summer that is saved for mating in spring. Males release sperm at around the same time.
The reproduction process is initiated by female snakes when they release a set of pheromones indicating that they are ready to mate. Once the males have sensed the signal, they are off to the hibernating sites, which are located far from the mountains. Once the female species have mated, they vacate the nesting grounds.
Males continue to stay there and mate further. The eggs are retained in her stomach for about two to three months.
The young ones are released and left to fend for themselves. The size of the litter is determined by a variety of factors. To begin with, if the female is heavier before mating, she is more likely to produce 12-19 eggs.
In other situations, depending on the environment and the number of sexual partners, they might release as few as four eggs or as many as 12 eggs. Young ones left out in the cold frequently become fierce hunters in an attempt to survive the winter.
What is their conservation status?
The garter snakes have pretty dense populations spread across a wide range especially in the North American regions. This subspecies of the western terrestrial garter snake is widespread in the mountains and is not close to being endangered or threatened. For this reason, the IUCN has placed these snakes in the Least Concern category.
Mountain Garter Snake Fun Facts
What do mountain garter snakes look like?
Much like all other Western garter snakes, this medium-sized subspecies also has a strong yellow dorsal stripe, as well as a paler stripe on either side of the body with some black spots on the back.
They have a yellow-colored throat, and eight upper labial scales surround the mouth, while 10 lower labial scales run down the jaw of this species.
The young ones also have similar appearances.
They stop growing right after the year they attain sexual maturity. Certain scales in the upper line are wider than others due to the presence of glands.
*We've been unable to source an image of a mountain garter snake and have used an image of the western terrestrial garter snake instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a mountain garter snake, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.How cute are they?
Almost all snakes receive terrified reactions from humans, and this species is no different. As frightening as it can be, the combination of colors of stripes and scales is admirable. Besides, the shy and submissive nature of these mountain garter snakes is quite likable.
How do they communicate?
Pheromones are used by all common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) as a mode of communication. They have strong visual and olfactory senses.
The distinction between male and female pheromones aids in the identification of possible sexual partners. The snakes are followed by the chemical cues emitted throughout their natural habitat, in the case of this species, their mountain range. With the use of Jacob's organs in the olfactory system, these snakes use a tongue flicking behavior to sense pheromones.
How big is a mountain garter snake?
The mountain garter snake species are medium-sized and can be anywhere between 18-54 in (46 to 137 cm).
How fast can a mountain garter snake move?
The Western terrestrial snake subspecies are all fast-moving and mostly terrestrial. They are highly active during the day. Since the mountain garter snakes are born and spend a lot of time in the mountains they are particularly trained to climb elevated areas.
How much does a mountain garter snake weigh?
These snakes weigh up to 5 0z (140 g) which is almost the same as a common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).
What are the male and female names of the species?
Though there are certain differences observed between the sexes of this species, they do not have any distinguishing names. They are simply referred to as Thamnophis elegans elegans.
What would you call a baby mountain garter snake?
The mountain garter snake babies are mostly called snakelets.
What do they eat?
Geographic variation and range play a major role in food habits. Mountain garter snakes prey on small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Due to their slender body, they are often preyed upon by hawks, crows, egrets, herons, cranes, raccoons, coral snakes, kingsnakes.
Are they poisonous?
These snakes, like all other North American species, are mildly poisonous. The venom is only powerful enough to kill prey, not to pose a life-threatening hazard to people. It can, however, induce allergic reactions or local edema in those who have come into contact.
Would they make a good pet?
Garter snakes are known to be docile. They are not dangerous and are shy, making them easy to manage. It's also not difficult to accommodate their habitat preferences either.
They are usually found near a water supply. However, since they are used to living in the mountains, this species may not be a good match for a human setting. Be aware that owning them is illegal in some areas.
Did you know...
These snakes are usually endemic to North America and Central America.
This species uses the same secluded spot such as a den to hibernate every year.
The Western terrestrial garter snake species is very closely related to the common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) found on the Pacific coast.
The piles of snakes mating together is called a mating ball.
These snakes have quick reflexes which come in handy when they attack their prey restricting its movement with sharp teeth.
The venom of garter sakes is not poisonous enough to kill a human and they will not hurt you unless provoked.
They can be a good thing in your yard as they eat insects, rattlesnakes, and other pests. But if you want to get rid of the garter snakes on your lawn, the easiest way is to use a strong water source rather than hurting them.
Herpetologists differentiate the western terrestrial garter snake subspecies based on mild color variations observed in the dorsal stripe and the stripes running along the body. The scales on their body also play a prominent role in identification.Mountain garter snakes are easily spotted by the three long stripes on their body.
The San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) and California red-sided gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) are the most colorful garter snake species.
Are garter snakes aggressive?
The children are without parental supervision and, in order to survive, might become violent. Adult snakes, unless threatened, do not constitute a threat. They give forth warnings and changes in behavior before getting violent, such as releasing a musk or hiding behind something.
What are garter snakes afraid of?
We have all heard the famous saying, 'snakes are more scared of us than we are of them.' They see us as large predators that might cause harm to them.
When it comes to other predators that view them as prey, they fear red-tailed hawks,ring-billed gulls, bald eagles, and American robins the most. They are petrified when fire or smoke breaks out, owing to their keen sense of smell.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other animals from our plain-bellied water snake facts and Eastern brown snake facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable mountain garter snake coloring pages.
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Adekunle Olanrewaju JasonBachelor of Science specializing in Mass Communication.
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With a bachelor's degree in Economics from Krea University, Gowri is a highly skilled data analyst and an expert in regression and causation modeling. Her interests in economic trends, finance, and investment research complement her professional expertise. In addition to her professional pursuits, Gowri enjoys swimming, running, and playing the drums, and she is also a talented tutor.
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