eastern pics from MA

[greyhawk]

Hey, I'm new. I don't own any garters but have kept some for short periods of time and like searching for them. I thought I'd share some pics of some garters from northeast Massachusetts.

[Thamnophis]

Very nice.

Is the snake on the second picture also a n Eastern garter?
And if so, does this colour appear together with those of the first, third and fourth picture?

[greyhawk]

Very nice.

Is the snake on the second picture also a n Eastern garter?
And if so, does this colour appear together with those of the first, third and fourth picture?

Yup, all are easterns from the same acre or so. The first pic, the second pic, and the yellow one on the fourth pic are all the same phase, they second one doesnt have visible checkering/spots because it isn't flattened out/threatened like in the first pic. The fourth one has checkering because it must have eaten something. The second one would probably have spots if I were to scared it. Most of the garters in that area are that yellow phase, pretty much dark, almost lback, with yellow stripes and bluish checkering when flattened. The snake on the third and on the last picture is more of an orange phase garter, although it is hard to tell in the pictures probably. Orange-ish stripes are fairly common around here too. Once instead of bluish checkerings I saw one that had green checkering. I have never heard of one of those before I saw one, has anyone else?


About the first picture, it wasn't hard to get the picture because the snake made slow strikes and kept its mouth open for a couple seconds whenever I put my hand near its mouth.

[ssssnakeluvr]

easterns have variable colors.....

[ssssnakeluvr]

got sidetracked by my kids.... lol! They have many different colors and varying amounts of checkers. I have seen pics of one eastern with reddish checkers....

[GarterGuy]

Very nice T.s.sirtalis pics! Nice examples of the variability in their colours and patterns. All those snakes in one acre?....wish I could find a spot like that here in PA. Looks like the first one didn't really like getting his pic taken though....LOL.

[Cazador]

What great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[Beautifylgirl]

Very nice pictures. I personally like the first one where its trying to eat the camera. You are very lucky to get a shot like that . My camera is too slow and would miss that action completely.
Brittany

[Thamnophis]

Thank for the explaination.

I know that Eastern Garters are highly variable.
But I was curious if different variations live close to eachother in the same area.

[Markus18]

is the snake on the second photo not a Thamnophis butleri