Western Terrestrial Garter Snake

Thamnophis elegans

Class

Reptilia

Order

squamata

Family

colubridae

Genus

Thamnophis

Look for the Western Terrestrial Garter Snake near water as they tend to live near lakes and streams as well as deserts, mountains, meadows, and forests. The snakes have an overal olive coloration with pale yellow undersides and a yellow stripe along the entire length of the body. The Western Terrestrial Garter Snake are carnivores as they eat small mammals, amhibians, reptiles, and insects. They have a neurotoxin that paralyzes their prey.

Discover more about this cool species here