Shorthead garter snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shorthead garter snake |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thamnophis
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| Species: |
brachystoma
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| Synonyms | |
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The shorthead garter snake (scientific name: Thamnophis brachystoma) is a small type of snake. It is a colubrid snake, which means it belongs to a large family of snakes that are usually not venomous. This snake is special because it is endemic to a small area in the northeastern United States. This means it is only found naturally in that specific region.
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Where the Shorthead Garter Snake Lives
The shorthead garter snake lives in certain parts of the northeastern United States. You can find it in small areas in northwestern Pennsylvania. It also lives in southwestern New York. There is even a group of these snakes that were introduced to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This group now lives outside of the snake's natural home.
What Its Name Means
The scientific name brachystoma tells us something about this snake. It comes from two ancient Greek words. Brachy means "short," and stoma means "mouth." So, brachystoma basically means "short mouth." This name describes one of the snake's features.
What the Shorthead Garter Snake Looks Like
The shorthead garter snake is a small snake. It usually grows to be about 25 to 56 centimeters (10 to 22 inches) long. Its head and body blend together, so it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
This snake has a unique look. Its back is often olive or olive-green in color. It has three stripes that run along its body. One stripe is on its back, and two are on its sides. These stripes are usually beige or yellow. Unlike some other garter snakes, the shorthead garter snake does not have black spots between its stripes.
Female shorthead garter snakes are usually bigger than the males. This difference in size between males and females is called sexual dimorphism.
Where the Shorthead Garter Snake Likes to Live
Shorthead garter snakes often live in old fields and meadows. These are open, grassy areas. Sometimes, they can also be found in wooded areas nearby. They usually stay close to fields, within a few hundred meters.
On sunny days, these snakes like to bask in the sun to warm up. However, studies have shown they are often found hiding. They like to hide under things like wood or rocks. They are mostly seen out in the open on cloudy days.
How the Shorthead Garter Snake Behaves
The shorthead garter snake is generally calm if you try to pick it up. It is slow to bite people. However, if it feels threatened, it will defend itself. It might release a smelly liquid called musk. It can also release waste from its body.
These snakes are often found together under cover objects. This happens no matter the season or if they are breeding. It seems they don't mind sharing their hiding spots.
What the Shorthead Garter Snake Eats
In the wild, the shorthead garter snake eats only earthworms. They love to munch on these wiggly creatures.
If they are kept as pets, they might eat other things. These can include leeches, salamanders, frogs, and fish. Before non-native earthworms came to North America, these snakes ate native earthworms. These native worms lived only in a certain area called the Allegheny Plateau.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Shorthead garter snakes reproduce in the spring. This happens shortly after they come out of their winter hiding spots. Female snakes often already have eggs developing inside them when they emerge.
How often females breed can depend on where they live. Females in New York usually breed every other year. But females in Pennsylvania breed every year. Male snakes store sperm from the previous year to use for breeding. Their testes (where sperm is made) are small in spring. They grow to full size by midsummer. After that, they store the sperm for the next spring.
Scientists believe that shorthead garter snakes give birth to live young. This is called viviparous reproduction. Studies have shown that nutrients can pass from the mother to her babies while they are developing inside her.
