To make itself look larger, it might also flatten its head and body when it feels it’s in danger. The young go off on their own right away, having no more association with their mother. Flatworm and roundworm species can also live in these snakes, some being parasitic, or causing harm, and others commensal, providing benefits to the snake. They can also sense that a human is walking nearby, as they detect sounds and sense vibrations in the ground and move quickly to hide. There are two recognized subspecies of Thamnophis cyrtopsis with their distinction based on slight pattern differences. Due to the nature of their wild diet, they can be difficult to feed in captivity; however, they can be converted to mice. Your email address will not be published. They are a smaller snake, reaching between 16 and 28 inches in length. In Texas, Thamnophis cyrtopsis is restricted to the wetter portions of the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau. Despite habitat loss and threats from introduced species, the blackneck garter snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis) is holding its own in its extensive range. These snakes’ skin pattern helps to camouflage them in their natural habitat. Anne Haywood, Mountain to Sea Education Introduced species, such as bullfrogs and sunfish, feed on the blackneck garter snake and also compete with them for prey, which impacts the garter snake’s population. Sometimes it also eats skinks, crustaceans, and earthworms. Thamnophis cyrtopsis is present in the southwestern U.S., found in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. total number of people or organisms in a particular area. environmental organization concerned with preserving natural ecosystems and habitats. substance released by an animal that influences the behavior of other animals of the same species. Dorsal ground color is generally olive; head color is gray. In some areas, its habitat has been lost or fragmented because of urbanization, deforestation, or the expansion of agriculture. You cannot download interactives. Blackneck garter snakes are spread in parts of both the Americas and are known for their eye-cathing looks. The oriental whip snake (Ahaetulla prasina) is a common snake found throughout parts of Asia. Nonvenomous, it grows to be 40.5–71 centimeters (16 to 28 inches) long. In these warmer habitats, Thamnophis cyrtopsis is nocturnal or crepuscular, becoming diurnal in the spring, or during the fall as the day length shortens. Series of alternating spots is found along the first dorsal scale row. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. type of animal (an arthropod) with a hard shell and segmented body that usually lives in the water. Thamnophis cyrtopsis is viviparous, as are the rest of the garter snakes. an animal able to live both on land and in water. Black-necked gartersnakes are striped gartersnakes, typically with a dark grey or olive-grey background color, two whitish or cream-colored side stripes on the 2nd and 3rd scale rows, and a thick, bright mid-dorsal (center of the back) stripe. Sustainability Policy |  1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Two rows of alternating blotches are found between the lateral and vertebral stripes. Blacknecked garter snakes eat a variety of prey: frogs, toads, tadpoles, fish, skinks, crustaceans, and earthworms. The blackneck garter snake occurs in a wide range of habitats, from dry deserts to forested mountains. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. The black-necked gartersnake is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. If threatened or disturbed, this garter snake emits a strong, unpleasant smelling musk from its anal glands and may also expel feces. Two additional white lateral stripes are positioned over the second and third dorsal scale rows. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. How are blackneck garter snakes part of a food web? Keeled dorsal scales in 19 rows near midbody. having to do with venom or organisms that secrete venom. They are also prey for a variety of other vertebrates, including bullfrogs, sunfish, and other snake species. Vertebral stripe may be a shade of orange near the head. National Geographic: How To Be A Snake [Life in Motion]. Required fields are marked *. Thamnophis cyrtopsis is known for flattening its body in an attempt to look larger. She or he will best know the preferred format. Nonvenomous, it grows to be 40.5–71 centimeters (16 to 28 inches) long. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Published on September 4th 2017 by staff under Snakes. The blackneck garter snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis), named for the black blotches behind its jaws, has a large population that ranges from southern Colorado and Utah south into Mexico and Guatemala. Privacy Notice |  Even so, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed their status as being of least concern and their population is considered relatively stable. The Black-necked Gartersnake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis) is a moderate-sized (< 1144 mm total length [TL], but most are < 700 mm TL) striped snake often common in and near perennial and ephemeral waters in the 100-Mile Circle. Blackneck garter snakes communicate with each other mainly through the release of chemical pheromones. Terms of Service |  Why can it be hard to find snakes such as the blacknecked garter snakes in the wild?