Add Animal
    Mammals
    Mammals Birds Amphibians Reptiles Animals Ray-finned fishes Myxini – Hagfishes Petromyz' – Lampreys Sharks & rays Holocep' – Chimaeras Dipneusti – Lungfish Coelac' – Coelacanths Insecta – Insects / bugs Gastropoda – Snails & slugs Cephalopoda – Squids & octopuses Arachnida – Spiders, scorpions & allies Malacostraca – Malacostracans Diplopoda – Millipedes Bivalvia – Marine molluscs Chilopoda – Centipedes Pycnogonida – Sea spiders Merostomata – Horseshoe crabs More Classes
    Filters

    Regions

    See AllSelect

    Habitat

    See AllSelect

    Thamnophis – Garter snakes

    Largely nonvenomous striped North American snakes

    Members of this genus come in various colors, but most have three longitudinal stripes on their bodies. They are among the most common snakes in North America, from Canada to Florida. They are often found near water and are common in suburban and urban areas with plenty of cover.

    Although generally harmless, the saliva of some species contains a mild neurotoxin that causes paralysis, making small prey easier to swallow. Most of the Garter snake species are declared as Least concern by the IUCN, while four garter snake species are currently threatened. Although generally harmless, the saliva of some species contains a mild neurotoxin that causes paralysis, making small prey easier to swallow.