Introduction and Thamnophis Field Herping: San Francisco Bay Area

[Zach_Lim]

Hello fellow Thamnophis fans,

My name is Zach Lim and I just wanted to introduce myself to the forum. I live in San Francisco, CA. Although I maintain a small collection of colubrids (mostly locality specific mountain kingsnakes and a few Thamnophis), my true passion is field herping. As of late, my main targets have been the various Thamnophis found within Northern CA. Here are a few of the snakes I was able to locate and photograph.

Thamnophis atratus atratus (San Mateo county)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/1770-large-thamnophis_atratus_atratus.jpg

T.atratus atratus, Young of Last Year (San Mateo County)- now in my collection
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/Herping2012024-4.jpg

T.atratus INTERGRADE (Marin county)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/Herping2012005-3.jpg



T.elegans terrestris (San Francisco)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/1863-large-thamnophis_elegans_terrestris.jpg

T.elegans terrestris "Flame Phase" (San Mateo county)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/Herping2012015-4.jpg


T.sirtalis infernalis "Blue Phase" (Marin county)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/Herping2012024-7.jpg


Although I have been herping for some time now, I never really focused on garters. Now, as I have slowly been checking off my life list of Bay Area herps, the hunt for garters is on. Time to get stinky.


Edit: Hmm...guess I can't post more then 6 pics on this forum....
-Zach

[infernalis]

Very nice photos, Imagine that flame phase after she sheds!

ever see any San Frans?

I keep 4 Infernalis as captives here at home, my favourite garters of all.

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[snake man]

Nice photos I love the flame.

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice. Love the atratus.

[Light of Dae]

Welcome, You can post as many pictures as you like, but only 5 per post.

[indigoman]

Thanks for the pics, I've just aquired some T.infernalis blue phase and it was nice to see s pic of a wild one. Oh welcome to the forum!

[Zach_Lim]

Thank you all for the kind replies.

Flame phase Coasties are actually extremely common at a few localities in San Mateo county. Same with the high red Coasties. I love how variable they are.

I have yet to see any San Francisco Garters, but have been frequenting ponds that they are known to be. One day I will see that flash of blue and red!

[Zach_Lim]

For got to add:
Blue phase infernalis are probably one of my favorite Bay Area Thamnophis. In the wild, they are strikingly blue, almost the the extent of tetrataenia (I mean, they are technically the same species, and arguably, the same subspecies based on DNA genetics). The photographed was a large male (about 28 inches snout to tail tip) and was deep in shed. The specimens from that locality are BLUE when in their prime.

Atratus atratus are probably my favorite local species of Thamnophis. Occasionally I will see MASSIVE, almost gopher snake sized, Santa Cruz garters. Despite their common name of "Aquatic", I rarely find them near water. The burly looking one (head shot, first pic) was actually found at a site where I find California Mountain Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata)...far from any permanent water!

I'm gonna have to say my favorite North American Thamnophis right now has got to be the Oregon Red-Spotted. Gorgeous snake that I hope to work with some day. Would love a locality specific specimen...

[infernalis]

the six picture limit is per post, you can follow with another post with six more.

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/garter-snake-lounge/11417-field-herping-thread.html

[Invisible Snake]

Great pictures and welcome to the forum!

May I ask what garter snakes you currently have in your collection?

[Zach_Lim]

Thank you for the warm welcomes. My only gartersnake is the juvie Santa Cruz that is pictured above. Cute little fellow that takes anything from my fingers or forceps.
Found him underneath a pile of trash while searching for rubber boas!

[guidofatherof5]

Lucky.
Very nice.

[mikem]

Great photos, thanks for sharing! I want to add some atratus to my collection, very beautiful garters. Love that flame terrestris too :cool:

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Welcome to the forum.I love the colour scheme on those atratus:)

[jitami]

Welcome! Love the pics! Please do share more! I'm up by Sacramento, but haven't had the time to really get into field herping. Though we do find a few snakes here and there... I was fortunate enough to find a zonata, probably my favorite snake, up north a bit. Good luck in your search for the elusive tetrataenia!

[Zach_Lim]

Thanks for the kind words.

Zonata are hands down my favorite North American snake. I have been lucky enough to have seen a pair breeding in the wild!

Tami, what county did you see the zonata in? In the Cascade Range? Gorgeous snakes up there...

[jitami]

I have been lucky enough to have seen a pair breeding in the wild!

Very cool!


Tami, what county did you see the zonata in? In the Cascade Range? Gorgeous snakes up there...

It was actually in Nevada County, just into the Tahoe National Forest. I also used to see them growing up along the Arroyo Seco River and didn't realize there were kingsnakes without red until I was an adult :)

Here's the guy we caught & released:

6849

And here's my little girl, Miss Hissy Fit... not as pretty or as good natured as the one we released, lol, but she needed a home and I was/am thrilled to provide her one:

6850
btw, have no idea what locality she's from, but she's more orange, cream and black rather than stark black/white/red. She was brought into a pet store by a family who didn't want her anymore. They said they bought her? Who knows... of course the pet store here in CA couldn't do anything with her, but took her in and started making calls. I had mentioned that I'd love one if someone came across one needing a home and a friend thought of me when the petshop owner called him... thanks again, Loren :)

[BUSHSNAKE]

NICE...mountain kings are awesome!

[EasternGirl]

Hi and welcome to the forum! Great pics...thanks for sharing those! I have a baby Oregon red spotted garter named Bella....among many other garters!

[jitami]

And here's my little girl, Miss Hissy Fit... not as pretty or as good natured as the one we released, lol, but she needed a home and I was/am thrilled to provide her one:
6850


Have no idea why that pic is so tiny, even when clicked on.... here's a larger version... these were when she first got here last year. She's probably doubled in size since then. Like most kings, she's a GREAT eater. Unlike most kings she'd prefer to eat me <gg> I still love her, though.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/jitami/Sly/DSC05217.jpg

[Zach_Lim]

Tami-

Excellent find with that Nevada county multicincta. Certain populations in the Sierras are often very "dark" with many black crossovers (a trait I find simply beautiful). Near the Merced Drainage and into the adjacent National Parks, there are actually axantic zonata that turn black and white with age!

In regards to your pictures of your captive zonata, it is hard to tell what subspecies it is. However, from what I can see, judging by head and width of white bands, I am leaning towards multicincta. Locality will be IMPOSSBLE to determine without any notes or reference from the person who, I figured, caught it from the wild. I say WC because few CA people are breeding any subspecies zonata as they are not legal to sell or used as barter within the state. Only L.zonata agalma can be sold in the state.

Here is the breeding pair I flipped in San Mateo county, CA:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/1714-large-lampropeltis_zonata_multifasciata.jpg

And to keep this Thamnophis centric:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/73627-90616.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/96359-114093.jpg

T.atratus atratus from San Mateo county that represent the two pattern "phases" that can be found there. The above is the classic single, wide stripe, while the other is a YoY representing the "multi-stripe" phase.

[snake man]

the atratus looks a little crumpy.

[jitami]

Tami- Excellent find with that Nevada county multicincta. Certain populations in the Sierras are often very "dark" with many black crossovers (a trait I find simply beautiful).
Thanks! It was a lucky find for sure. I love the black crossovers as well.


Near the Merced Drainage and into the adjacent National Parks, there are actually axantic zonata that turn black and white with age!
How cool is that? :)


In regards to your pictures of your captive zonata, it is hard to tell what subspecies it is. However, from what I can see, judging by head and width of white bands, I am leaning towards multicincta. Locality will be IMPOSSBLE to determine without any notes or reference from the person who, I figured, caught it from the wild. I say WC because few CA people are breeding any subspecies zonata as they are not legal to sell or used as barter within the state. Yes, I assume the same despite their story of buying her. I am happy to house her as my one zonata, though :)



Here is the breeding pair I flipped in San Mateo county, CA:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/1714-large-lampropeltis_zonata_multifasciata.jpg

And to keep this Thamnophis centric:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/73627-90616.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/oi_clockworkorange_oi/96359-114093.jpg

T.atratus atratus from San Mateo county that represent the two pattern "phases" that can be found there. The above is the classic single, wide stripe, while the other is a YoY representing the "multi-stripe" phase.

I'm still so impressed that you flipped that breeding pair! Love the atratus, too, of course. The multi-striped phase would have me confused if I found it... now maybe not quite as much. lol