Valley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi)
Created: July 23rd, 2012 - 06:11 PM
Last Modified: January 29th, 2015 - 07:51 PM Entered by: Robert and Nicholas Hess
Record 118006
Last Modified: January 29th, 2015 - 07:51 PM Entered by: Robert and Nicholas Hess
Record 118006
|
Country: United States |
State: California |
County: El Dorado County |
Time: 2012-07-14 12:11:00 |
|
|
Qty: 1 |
Age: Sub-Adult |
Sex: -- |
Method: Artificial cover flipping |
Habitat: rocky coniferous |
|
Body Temperature: ----- |
Air Temperature: 80.00F |
Ground Temperature: ----- |
Humidity: ----- |
|
|
Sky Conditions: Clear |
Moon Phase: ----- |
Elevation: 6488.00ft |
Barometric Pressure: ----- |
|
Notes
This high-elevation Valley Garter Snake was flipped under a board right next to the pond shown above.
Vouchers
Comments
If it had the red bars on the side you are probably right, but the head looks strange and the overall look of the animal is elegans. I was just going by your pics. Nice find, whatever it is...
Brian, you may be right. I did see what looked like a Mtn Garter bolt from under the same large board when I lifted it. It had no red whatsoever from what I could tell.
But: The snake in the picture had quite a bit of red along the side, though it was in the blue and the red doesn't show well in the picture. So, unless Mtn. Garters too can have red on the side, it would have to be a Valley Garter. Also, the elevation is not exceptionally high for a Mtn. Garter. When I posted this snake on the forum, Chad Lane told me he found one well above 7000 feet, close to 8000 feet as I recall. So, the name "Valley" really is a misnomer.
Robert, I think this is a Mtn Garter. That could be too high for a Valley Garter and there are no red bars on the sides...