West Coast garter snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Coast garter snake |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Thamnophis |
| Species: |
T. validus
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| Binomial name | |
| Thamnophis validus |
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| Synonyms | |
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The West Coast garter snake (also known as Thamnophis validus) is a type of snake. It belongs to a large group of snakes called the Colubridae family. This snake lives only in Mexico, which means it is endemic to that country. There are four different kinds, or subspecies, of the West Coast garter snake.
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Where the West Coast Garter Snake Lives
The West Coast garter snake, or T. validus, can be found in several states in Mexico. These states include:
Its Home in Mexico
These snakes live in different parts of Mexico, from the dry areas of Baja California Sur to the more tropical regions of Guerrero. They are well-adapted to their specific Mexican habitats.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The West Coast garter snake is a viviparous animal. This means that the mother snake gives birth to live baby snakes. The babies develop inside the mother's body, similar to how mammals have their young. They do not hatch from eggs laid outside the body.
How Baby Snakes Are Born
Instead of laying eggs, the mother snake carries her young until they are ready to be born. This way of having babies can help the young snakes survive better in some environments.
Different Types of West Coast Garter Snakes
There are four recognized subspecies, or types, of the West Coast garter snake. Each subspecies is a slightly different version of the same snake species. These are:
- Mexican Pacific Lowlands garter snake (T. v. celaeno)
- T. v. isabelleae
- T. v. thamnophisoides
- T. v. validus
What Subspecies Mean
When you see a name like T. v. celaeno, it means it's a specific type of Thamnophis validus. The last part of the name, like celaeno, tells you which subspecies it is. Sometimes, the name in parentheses after a subspecies means that it was first described as a different kind of snake, not a Thamnophis.
Why It's Named That Way
One of the subspecies, isabelleae, was named to honor a special person. This name is for Isabelle Hunt Conant. She was an American artist who drew wildlife, and she was married to a well-known snake expert named Roger Conant.
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
