Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Plate 4.53
Blue-striped garter snake (
Thamnophis sirtalis similis
), Dixie County, Florida,
USA.
A specimen of
T. s. similis
inflicted a bite that reportedly caused mild ecchymoses
and lymphadenopathy. This species is endemic to Florida, and is reasonably popular among
Thamnophis
collectors (see Section 4.2 and
Table 4.1
).
Photo copyright to Jake Scott.
(A)
(D)
Plate 4.54
(A, D-J) Common garter snake (
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
).
One of the
most popular “pet” snakes in North America, many natural scientists and amateur collectors
began exploring their interests by maintaining specimens of
T. sirtalis
. These profiles of
representative specimens show their variability in color and subtle pattern features. Although
there are several documented cases of mild local effects caused by bites from members of the
genus, particularly
T. elegans vagrans
, their bites are most often medically insignificant.
Plate 4.54A, photo copyright to Julian White; Plate 4.54D-F, photos copyright to Christopher
E. Smith; Plate 4.54G-J, photos copyright to Jeffrey B. LeClere.
