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San Francisco Garter Snake (Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia)
San Francisco Garter Snake (Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia)

California. To breeders and collectors this would be considered "the perfect one" markings and colors.

Differentiating the San Francisco Garter Snake (Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia) shown above and
the Point Reys Garters snakes (Thamnophis Sirtalis Infernalis ) are physiologically and morphologically similar. In some cases specimens from boat locatoions are identical.
Most taxa differ morphologically from other taxa. Typically, closely related taxa differ much less than more distantly related ones, but there are exceptions to this. Cryptic species are species which look very similar, or perhaps even outwardly identical, but are reproductively isolated. Conversely, sometimes unrelated taxa acquire a similar appearance as a result of convergent evolution or even mimicry. A further problem with relying on morphological data is that what may appear, morphologically speaking, to be two distinct species, may in fact be shown by DNA analysis to be a single species.




SAVING THE SAN FRANCISCO GARTER SNAKE

The San Francisco garter snake has been dubbed “the most beautiful serpent in North America,” and it’s arguably one of the most endangered species, too. All known populations of this fantastically colored snake occur in scarce coastal and bayside wetlands in San Mateo County. The snake’s preferred habitats have been hit hard by agricultural, residential, commercial, and even recreational development — so the Center is working to protect and restore habitat for this rare and unique turquoise serpent.
We’ve built a campaign to re-establish a unique backbarrier lagoon habitat at Sharp Park in Pacifica, California — public land that’s a significant habitat for the garter snake as well as its preferred prey, the California red-legged frog. In 2008, we filed a notice of intent to sue the city of San Francisco for illegally killing and harming San Francisco garter snakes at Sharp Park Golf Course. Along with adjacent Mori Point, which lies within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Sharp Park provides one of the last great restoration opportunities on California’s central coast.
Numerous toxic pesticides known or suspected to harm garter snakes are used in San Mateo County. The Center is challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s registration and authorization for use of 44 toxic pesticides in and upstream of habitats for San Francisco Bay Area endangered species, including the San Francisco garter snake. We continue to monitor and oppose harmful chemical pesticide use in California through our Pesticides Reduction Campaign .

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Taken on: September 26, 2010
Sets appears in:   • SAN FRANCISCO GARTER SNAKE   
Groups appears in:   • San Francisco    • Herp Photography    more » • SNAKES    • Reptiles & Amphibians    • The Nature Conservancy    • Herpetology / Everything REPTILIAN    • Wild Biology    • Herp Center    • Snakes pics : Only the very best!    • The Psychedelic Experience    « less
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San Francisco Garter Snake (Thamnophis Sirtalis Tetrataenia)

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