Garters in the field: June-July 2009

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Does the fun never end?


T. ordinoides - Little Bald Hills, Redwood National Park (Del Norte County)
June 25, 2009


T. atratus hydrophilus - New River, Denny, CA (Trinity County)
July 11, 2009


T. s. fitchi (typical phase) - Crescent Beach, RNSP
(Del Norte County) July 20, 2009


T. s. firchi (reduced lateral reds) - Crescent Beach July 20, 2009


T s. fitchi or T. e. terrestris? - Crescent Beach July 20, 2009
(Mid-body scale rows count 19, which is standard for sirtalis; 7 supralabial scales are also indicative; the classic lateral red indentations are also present. Most puzzling is the lateral and ventral red flecking on this individual - a trait normally associated with terrestris and often ordinoides. Hybrids? Varied recessive, co-dominant , or polygenic traits within a locality? Convergent dietary preferences?)


T. e. terrestris - Crescent Beach July 20, 2009
This Coast Garter had the standard supra and infralabial scale counts: 8 and 10; color and pattern are also typical (with red flecks). Mid-body scale rows however numbered only 19.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

T. s. fitchi (gravid female awaiting shed) - Jed Bar, Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park (Del Norte County) July 23, 2009


T. e. terrestris (typical variant for this location) - Davison Ranch, RNSP
(Humboldt County) July 16, 2009

Well, that's it for now. I should have some new pics of Oregon Garters (hydrophilus) in a few weeks. Enjoy!

Steve

[Snaky]

Great finds!

[gregmonsta]

Great shots ... jealous much ... nah

[mustang]

wow awsome

[jitami]

Very nice Steve!!! Thanks for sharing your finds with the rest of us!

[k2l3d4]

I would be careful with that gravid girl... She looked like she was out to get you Great pics and thanks for sharing.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

I would be careful with that gravid girl... She looked like she was out to get you Great pics and thanks for sharing.

Actually, she was surprisingly mellow: no mock striking behavior, no defecation. I think she was going to pop soon, and wasn't wasting any energy at this point. I mean if you're dragging weight, you're already swamped for reserves... I let her continue her search for a good hide where I found her; she eventually found one. Despite the foot traffic at Jed Smith Redwood SP campground, it seems Valleys fair well on the banks and gravel bars there at the Smith River (California's last dam-free river!).

[k2l3d4]

Glad to hear that she found a spot to lay it down.... that was one big girl from what I can tell.