Newbie!

[azrael]

Hi I'm Gary...

I'm UK bred Oregonian... I have become a Garter Lover...Breeder... bla bla bla...

I'm here to learn a bit more about the species... do's don't etc!

Well I'm sure I will be showing of quite a range of Garters on here over the coming months from captive bred to some strange colonials from NW Oregon. And we have some beautiful Garters up here... I'm amazed everytime I go out these days! Oh the joy of the Oregonian mix and match Garter.

So is it a red sided NW when you have a snake that looks like a common (brown/black checkered) but with orange spots in the white stripe? You may see in the picture of my Garter 'Spotty the Red' below.

http://i42.tinypic.com/fbc7s6.jpg

Anyhow great to have found this forum!

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard. :)


So is it a red sided NW when you have a snake that looks like a common (brown/black checkered) but with orange spots in the white stripe? You may see in the picture of my Garter 'Spotty the Red' below.
No, the name depends on the species and subspecies. A nortwestern garter would be a Thamnophis ordinoides and red-sided garter would be Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (or if it's a California red-sided garter: Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis). A checkered garter snake would be a Thamnophis marcianus. All completely different species.

That is indeed a beautiful and interesting looking garter you have there. I don't think I've ever seen one like it before. I'm not at all sure of the species, I see features that I'd expect to see in both T. ordinoides and T. elegans spp.

[drache]

welcome to the forum
that is an interesting and attractive garter

[Sid]

Hello, Gary and welcome the the forum. I'm leaning toward North Western Garter in your photo but not really sure. So many of the different spacies are so varible in both their coloration and markings. Can you get an accurature scale count at mid body? That may help identify it.

[gregmonsta]

Greetings :D

[azrael]

I know - Even more interesting is the red stripe either side of his/her sexual organs. Not sure on the sex just yet... but judging by the way he/she is interacting with the female I have... I'm thinking 2 year old male!

[Odie]

Hi, from Hillsboro, Gary :)
Looks like a North Western Garter :D

[ssssnakeluvr]

checker pattern is too large for northwesterns....I would say wandering garter... oh, welcome to the forum!!!!!

[prattypus]

welcome to the forum. I really dig the dorsal stripe.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum. Looking forward to more photos. Welcome.

[TwistidMutations]

Welcome to the forum i would say that is a wandering great looking animal

[azrael]

Thanks everyone... I've seen a lot of valueable info on this forum, Thanks for having me here!

[count dewclaw]

Welcome, welcome! :D

[Snake lover 3-25]

hi gary:) welcome to the forum:)

[adamanteus]

Hi Gary, and welcome to the forum!:)

[azrael]

I'm still baffled totally by this Garter, So do we all have the opinion that it is a sub-species or a Northwestern... or do I name this Garter: Thamnophis king tigardii (as in King City, Tigard. Oregon) :D lol

[Stefan-A]

I'm still baffled totally by this Garter, So do we all have the opinion that it is a sub-species or a Northwestern... or do I name this Garter: Thamnophis king tigardii (as in King City, Tigard. Oregon) :D lol
Count the supralabial scales on both sides and the dorsal scale rows. It's either a Northwestern (T. ordinoides) or a Western Terrestrial (T. elegans).

[azrael]

Thanks... I got 2 rows in the dorsal and 8 rows either side.

[azrael]

I counted diagonally, other than that I got 18 in total if that helps :)

[Stefan-A]

The dorsal scale rows should be an odd number, either 17 or 19. What about the supralabial scales? How many on each side?

[azrael]

7 either side upper!

19 sorry dorsal but he's a bit not to chuffed now lol!

[Stefan-A]

T. ordinoides.

[azrael]

Gotcha... nice one! *Goes off to tell him the good news*