Checkered garter snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Checkered garter snake |
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| Genus: |
Thamnophis
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| Species: |
marcianus
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The checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) is a type of garter snake. These snakes are part of the Colubridae family. You can find them in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
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About the Checkered Garter Snake
What's in a Name?
The scientific name marcianus honors an American general. His name was Randolph B. Marcy. He led trips to explore frontier areas in the mid-1800s.
What They Look Like
Checkered garter snakes are usually greenish. They have a clear black checkerboard pattern on their backs. This pattern looks like squares.
They can grow up to 42 inches (107 cm) long, including their tail. But most are smaller, usually 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm) long.
Where They Live
These snakes like to live in deserts and grasslands. They usually stay close to water sources. This helps them find food and stay cool.
What They Eat
Checkered garter snakes eat small animals. Their diet includes small frogs, toads, little fish, and earthworms.
If kept as a pet, they can learn to eat mice. However, they can be picky eaters. Sometimes they might suddenly stop eating mice.
How They Protect Themselves
If a checkered garter snake feels threatened, it will strike. It might also bite to defend itself.
They also have another trick. They can release a bad-smelling liquid. This liquid comes from their cloaca and can scare away attackers.
About Their Venom
For a long time, people thought these snakes were not venomous. But scientists recently found out they do make a mild venom. This venom is called a neurotoxic venom.
However, the amount of venom they produce is very small. It is also quite mild. Checkered garter snakes cannot harm humans with their venom. They also don't have a good way to inject it. They have larger teeth at the back of their mouth. The mild venom spreads into a wound if they chew on it.
Checkered Garter Snakes as Pets
The checkered garter snake is one of the easiest garter snakes to tame. Even snakes caught in the wild can become calm in a few days. This happens if you handle them gently.
These snakes are often sold as exotic pets. They are strong and healthy animals to keep. You can train them to eat mice or fish pieces. Some people even breed them in captivity. This has led to special types, like albino checkered garter snakes.
