Sirtalis ssp?

[Sherrie]

Ok, so someone told me that sirtalis ssp are banned in Texas. I don't know all the subspecies, so not sure what ssp means. So does anyone know what that means and if they're banned in Texas? I know a bit about native species laws but not about this.

[Sherrie]

This was brought up when I mentioned valley garters. I know valley garters are illegal to sell in California, but don't know if that's the case in Texas and I don't know what ssp means.

[jwolfe152]

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/gene...aws-texas.html

done a google search and found this i didnt read it all but hopefully it will answer your question

[jwolfe152]

from wikipedia

The abbreviation "sp." is used when the actual specific name cannot or need not be specified. The abbreviation "spp." (plural) indicates "several species". These abbreviations are not italicised (or underlined).^[44] For example: "Canis sp." means "an unspecified species of the genus Canis", while "Canis spp." means "two or more species of the genus Canis". (The abbreviations "sp." and "spp." can easily be confused with the abbreviations "ssp." (zoology) or "subsp." (botany), plurals "sspp." or "subspp.", referring to one or more subspecies. See trinomen (zoology) and infraspecific name.)
The abbreviation "cf." is used when the identification is not confirmed.^[45] For example "Corvus cf. splendens" indicates "a bird similar to the house crow but not certainly identified as this species".
In some contexts the dagger symbol ("†") may be used before or after the binomial name to indicate that the species is extinct.




Binomial nomenclature - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Sherrie]

Ok so they were basically trying to tell me that all sirtalis are banned in Texas. But according to the first link you posted you would just need a permit to sell. They're not necessarily banned, if I'm understanding correctly.

[Sherrie]

Thanks for the help, by the way.

[guidofatherof5]

It's probably referring toT. s. annectens (Texas garter snake) which has a Texas range.
Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. annectens, used this way ssp means subspecies.


iNaturalist.org · Texas Garter Snake (Subspecies Thamnophis sirtalis annectens)

[guidofatherof5]

Ok so they were basically trying to tell me that all sirtalis are banned in Texas. But according to the first link you posted you would just need a permit to sell. They're not necessarily banned, if I'm understanding correctly.

Best to contact someone in the Texas Parks and Wildlife legal division to clarify the the law to you.
4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744
(512) 389-4800 | (800) 792-1112

Be sure to right down the people's names you talk to as many times you can get conflicting opinions with regards to the interpretation of the code (been there, done that)

[Sherrie]

You're right. I may do that. The common garter snake or thamnophis sirtalis is on the black list, but I don't necessarily think that means fitchi.

[guidofatherof5]

You're right. I may do that. The common garter snake or thamnophis sirtalis is on the black list, but I don't necessarily think that means fitchi.

T. s. fitchi (Valley garter snake) doesn't come close to ranging in TX.