Black bellied eastern garter?

[Philminator]

This female garter snake from eastern ontario by the way I just realized of all the garters I've ever seen in my life it's the only one with a solid black belly. Is this a rare thing or common? because to me I've never seen this before could it of been cross bred with some other type of garter? I only know of the one type here in Ottawa Ontario Canada.

[guidofatherof5]

When I was up at the Narcisse Dens(Inwood, Manitoba) this year. I saw plenty of them with black bellies. I'll try to find one of my photos and post it. It appears to be a common trait.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Well I have never ever, not once in my life seen a garter that was not melanistic with a black belly and if I found one, I would be very intrigued by it. It's not really something you could do anything with... because you don't really see their belly... but it is still pretty cool and not something I have seen before! I am sure there are populations like that somewhere but it's a first for me!

[Philminator]

it would be cool to know if it's a sign of carrying melanistic trait but I doubt it

[ssssnakeluvr]

Well I have never ever, not once in my life seen a garter that was not melanistic with a black belly and if I found one, I would be very intrigued by it. It's not really something you could do anything with... because you don't really see their belly... but it is still pretty cool and not something I have seen before! I am sure there are populations like that somewhere but it's a first for me!

I find wanderings with black bellies a lot

[Stefan-A]

I find wanderings with black bellies a lot

My wandering male has a black belly, for example.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Let me reword that a little. I would be very intrigued if I found an eastern with a black belly!

[guidofatherof5]

When I was up at the Narcisse Dens(Inwood, Manitoba) this year. I saw plenty of them with black bellies. I'll try to find one of my photos and post it. It appears to be a common trait.

I thought we were talking about T.s.p My mistake. Ignore my post. Sorry.

[brain]

Here on the Island
T. sirtalis fitchi will have a grayish-blue to black underside. Which I have three of.

T. elegans usually are gray-brown or black, with a dark, checkered pattern between yellow stripes. And I have one which I consider het melanistic due to the fact that several years ago, before my interest in garters my cat caught a melanistic and had it trapped in and around where my dry vent leads out side. The snake I now have, his belly is a very dark blue to black and his checkered pattern has a rich bluish black mixed in.

T. ordinoides are very common here I have found out here are often red and orange on the back, but I have two with the red stripe and they have this bluish-black belly.
Conclusion “black belly” very common here.

[drache]

my Sammy has a black belly - she's het melanistic though