Valley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi)
Created: November 27th, 2019 - 02:36 PM
Last Modified: June 30th, 2020 - 01:31 AM Entered by: Brian Hubbs
Record 329112
Last Modified: June 30th, 2020 - 01:31 AM Entered by: Brian Hubbs
Record 329112
|
Country: United States |
State: California |
County: Merced County |
Time: 2019-11-22 14:47:00 |
|
|
Qty: 1 |
Age: Adult |
Sex: -- |
Method: Visual encounter |
Habitat: pond |
|
Body Temperature: ----- |
Air Temperature: ----- |
Ground Temperature: ----- |
Humidity: ----- |
|
|
Sky Conditions: ----- |
Moon Phase: ----- |
Elevation: ----- |
Barometric Pressure: ----- |
|
Vouchers
Comments
Well, after looking at google earth I realized I had it in the wrong county. It's Merced. Dammitt, I lost a county record...
A fitchi can have 8 upper labials, and I've seen a lot of fitchi. But, I'll get an opinion from Gary Nafis.
Well, Californiaherps.com has T. elegans throughout Santa Clara County. That does sounds pretty far out there, though. My thought was this looks like one of those Diablo/Elegans hybrids that Owen sometimes posts from Grant. You might have him take a look at this one.
Jim, are you saying Coast garter or what? This was extreme eastern Santa Clara in the central valley foothills. I don't think any elegans are in that area.
Brian, For what it's worth, I think this might be T. elegans. The color seems closer, and I count eight upper labials, with 6 & 7 being higher than wide.
LOL I didn't even realize it was a county record. Thanks for pointing that out...
Had the right count of labials for fitchi, and I've seen Diablos, and that did not look like one to me...
hmmm... kinda looks like the face of a diablo garter...
then again I've never seen a diablo in person lol, I have seen fitchi though.
congrats on the county record if it is