Thamnophis marcianus
Encyclopedia
The Checkered Garter Snake (Thamnophis marcianus) is a species
of garter snake
native to the southern United States
. The epithet marcianus is in honor of American Brigadier General Randolph B. Marcy
, who led surveying expeditions to the frontier areas in the mid 19th century. The Checkered Garter Snake is typically green in color, with a distinct, black checkerboard pattern down its back. It is capable of growing to lengths of 42 inches, but 28 inches is closer to average. They are typically found near permanent bodies of water, like streams and ponds, but have also been found in the semi desert region of the High Plains of West Texas.It is the most easy garter snake to tame; even a wild one can become tame in a few days when handled carefully. Their diet includes small frogs, toads, small fish, earthworms, and if trained small mice or fish fillet. They will rarely bite; instead they release a foul smelling liquid onto the attacker.
of T. marcianus:
trade, and makes a hardy captive animal. Captive breeding
, while not common, is done and albino variants are being produced.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of garter snake
Garter snake
The Garter snake is a Colubrid snake genus common across North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada to Central America. It is the single most widely distributed genus of reptile in North America. The garter snake is also the Massachusettsstate reptile.There is no real consensus on the...
native to the southern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The epithet marcianus is in honor of American Brigadier General Randolph B. Marcy
Randolph B. Marcy
Randolph Barnes Marcy was a career officer in the United States Army, achieving the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in 1881. Although beginning in 1861 his responsibilities were those of a brigadier general, the U.S...
, who led surveying expeditions to the frontier areas in the mid 19th century. The Checkered Garter Snake is typically green in color, with a distinct, black checkerboard pattern down its back. It is capable of growing to lengths of 42 inches, but 28 inches is closer to average. They are typically found near permanent bodies of water, like streams and ponds, but have also been found in the semi desert region of the High Plains of West Texas.It is the most easy garter snake to tame; even a wild one can become tame in a few days when handled carefully. Their diet includes small frogs, toads, small fish, earthworms, and if trained small mice or fish fillet. They will rarely bite; instead they release a foul smelling liquid onto the attacker.
Subspecies
There are three recognized subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of T. marcianus:
- Thamnophis marcianus marcianus (BairdSpencer Fullerton BairdSpencer Fullerton Baird was an American ornithologist, ichthyologist and herpetologist. Starting in 1850 he was assistant-secretary and later secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C...
& GirardCharles Frédéric GirardCharles Frédéric Girard was a French biologist specializing in ichthyology and herpetology.Born in Mulhouse, France, he studied at the College of Neuchâtel, Switzerland as a student of Louis Agassiz. In 1847, he accompanied Agassiz as his assistant to Harvard...
, 1853) - Thamnophis marcianus praeocularis (BocourtMarie Firmin BocourtMarie Firmin Bocourt was a French zoologist and artist.In zoology, Bocourt collaborated with Auguste Duméril. In 1861, he was sent to Thailand , where he explored the fauna and brought back an important collection of specimens...
, 1892) - Thamnophis marcianus bovalli (Dunn, 1940)
In captivity
The Checkered Garter Snake is frequently available in the exotic petPet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
trade, and makes a hardy captive animal. Captive breeding
Captive breeding
Captive breedingis the process of breeding animals in human controlled environments with restricted settings, such as wildlife reserves, zoos and other conservation facilities; sometimes the process is construed to include release of individual organisms to the wild, when there is sufficient...
, while not common, is done and albino variants are being produced.