Blackbelly garter snake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blackbelly garter snake
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Thamnophis
Species:	T. melanogaster
Binomial name
Thamnophis melanogaster (Peters, 1864)
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The blackbelly garter snake (Thamnophis melanogaster) is a type of snake. It belongs to the family called Colubridae. This snake lives in Mexico.

About the Blackbelly Garter Snake

Who Discovered This Snake?

The blackbelly garter snake was first described by a scientist named Wilhelm Peters in 1864. At first, he called it Tropidonotus melanogaster. Later, scientists decided its proper name is Thamnophis melanogaster.

Where Does It Live?

This snake lives in Mexico. You can find it on the Central Mexican Plateau. It lives in places that are quite high up. These areas are between 1,158 and 2,545 meters (about 3,800 to 8,350 feet) above sea level.

What Does It Look Like?

The top part of these snakes (their back) can be many colors. It might be brown, olive green, gray, red, orange, or pink. The bottom part (their belly) can be the same colors. It can also be yellow.

Many blackbelly garter snakes have stripes on their backs. They usually have a black stripe running down the middle of their belly. This black stripe is why they are called "blackbelly" garter snakes. The scientific name melanogaster also means "black belly." Male and female snakes are usually about the same size.

Where Does It Live? (Habitat)

This snake lives on land. It prefers places with a mild climate. Even though it lives on land, it always stays close to water. You won't find it more than 15 meters (about 50 feet) away from a pond, stream, or other body of water.

How Does It Have Babies?

Blackbelly garter snakes are ovoviviparous. This means the mother keeps the eggs inside her body. The babies hatch from the eggs while still inside. Then, the mother gives birth to live baby snakes.

What Does It Eat?

These snakes are special because they only eat underwater. They are the only known Thamnophis snakes that eat soft-bodied crayfish. Their diet can be very different. They also eat fish, frogs, tadpoles, leeches, and earthworms. They use their good underwater eyesight and their sense of smell to find and catch their food.

Different Types of Blackbelly Garter Snakes

There are four known types, or subspecies, of the blackbelly garter snake:

• The gray blackbelly garter snake, called T. m. canescens.
• The Chihuahuan blackbelly garter snake, called T. m. chihuahuaensis.
• The lined blackbelly garter snake, called T. m. linearis.
• The Mexican blackbelly garter snake, called T. m. melanogaster.

What Does Its Name Mean?

The scientific name melanogaster comes from two Greek words. Melanos means "black." Gaster means "belly." So, the name means "black belly," which fits this snake perfectly!