Plains Garter Snake Thamnophis radix


Description: 15 - 28 inches. Plains Garter Snakes are black or brown, with a yellow or orange colored stripe down the center of the back, as well as one down each side on the third and fourth rows of scales. The stripes on the sides are usually easy to distinguish from the color of the belly. The area between the stripes may be mostly black, or checkered with brown, red, yellow, or greenish colors. The lips have a series of vertical black bars along them, and the belly is cream or gray with rows of dark blotches down the side.

Similar Species: Common Garter Snakes are similar in appearance, but the stripes on the sides are on the second and third scale rows, and may be hard to distinguish from the color of the belly.

Comments: Dominant garter snake in western Minnesota.

Distribution Map
Distribution of the Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix)

This map is generated from data provided by the Bell Museum of Natural History and HerpMapper.org. Please help us keep it up-to-date by submitting your amphibian and reptile observations.

Phenology of Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix)
Photographs