Did You Know?

[guidofatherof5]

Thought I would start a thread where we could list "Did you know" facts about garter snakes. It can be a scientific fact or a fun fact (personal opinion)
For scientific facts please list your source.
I'll get things started.

Did you know that during courtship the male garter will use a rippling movement along side the female.
This movement is called caudocephalic waves. (The Garter Snake- Rossman, Ford and Seigel)

Did you know that garter snakes are begging machines.

[gregmonsta]

Did you know - garters can eat some seriously toxic prey, particularily newts and salamanders. The toxins accumulate in the liver and can make the snakes themselves toxic to eat.

P.S. .... if stuck in the wild .... definitely do not chow down on a concinnus .... amongst some others.

[guidofatherof5]

Did you know-
The scales of the upper lip are called Supralabial scales and the scales of the lower jaw are called Infralabial scales. The number of each can be used to help identify the different species.

Did you know-
Most garter snake species typically have two supralabials entering the eye orbit. Only Thamnophis rufipunctatus (Narrow-Headed Garter Snake) usually has one.
(The Garter Snake - Taxonomy and Evolution by Rossman, Ford and Seigal)

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Did you know that the Apalachicola garter used to be a separate subspecies (Thamnophis Sirtalis Ordinatus), but is now classed as Thamnophis Sirtalis Sirtalis. Did you know that garter snakes are highly addicting!

[jwolfe152]

named over a hundred years ago a the garter snakes name comes from the striped pattern that reminded people of the garters men wore at that time to hold up their socks.


Did you know garter snakes cant move on smooth surfaces?
not sure how true this is it came from Interesting Facts - Grassland Animal: Garter Snake


For some unknown reason, Garter snakes older and younger than on year doesn't hibernate together. It's a mystery why not. This phenomenon is also referred to as the lost year.
http://www.gartersnake.org/

[chris-uk]

Did you know garter snakes cant move on smooth surfaces?
not sure how true this is it came from Interesting Facts - Grassland Animal: Garter Snake

I'd dispute that as a fact. They struggle more on smooth surfaces, but my garters can move without too much trouble on bare glass.

Did you know that many species of Mexican garter snakes were found over 50 years ago by Roger Conant, but weren't documented until he published his notes in 2003?

[d_virginiana]

Did you know that a garter snake can move quickly and silently across any material standing between it and an open cage top?

[jwolfe152]

I'd dispute that as a fact. They struggle more on smooth surfaces, but my garters can move without too much trouble on bare glass.

Did you know that many species of Mexican garter snakes were found over 50 years ago by Roger Conant, but weren't documented until he published his notes in 2003?

that is why i put the link to the site. i didn't want anyone thinking i was making stuff up. i know Ekoh can move on bare glass and plastic cups like from mcdonalds(thats how i brought Ekoh home taped 2 together at the tops)

[Mommy2many]

Did you know that garter snakes can be as stubborn as any one of us when it comes to food preferences and will hold out until such food preference is presented? With their little snakie noses in the air and a look that says "You expect me to eat that"???