California Gartersnakes
Upper Labial Scales Comparison
| Snake | Number of Upper Labial Scales |
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| Thamnophis atratus atratus Santa Cruz Gartersnake |
8 6 and 7 not enlarged (7th longer than 6th) |
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| Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus Oregon Gartersnake |
8 6 and 7 not enlarged (7th longer than 6th) |
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| Thamnophis atratus zaxanthus Diablo Range Gartersnake |
8 6 and 7 not enlarged (7th longer than 6th) |
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| Thamnophis couchii Sierra Gartersnake |
8 6th is wider than 7th |
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| Thamnophis elegans elegans Mountain Gartersnake |
8 Occasionally 7 6 and 7 are enlarged, higher than wide |
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| Thamnophis elegans terrestris Coast Gartersnake |
8 Occasionally 7 6 and 7 are enlarged, higher than wide |
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| Thamnophis elegans vagrans Wandering Gartersnake |
8 Occasionally 7 6 and 7 are enlarged, higher than wide |
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| Thamnophis gigas Giant Gartersnake |
8 6th is shorter than 7th |
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| Thamnophis hammondii Two-striped Gartersnake |
8 |
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| Thamnophis marcianus Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake |
8 |
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| Thamnophis ordinoides Northwestern Gartersnake |
7 Sometimes 8, rarely 6 |
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| Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi Valley Gartersnake |
Usually 7 Occasionally 8, rarely 6 or 9 Often with black wedges |
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| Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis California Red-sided Gartersnake (and South Coast Gartersnake) |
Usually 7 Occasionally 8, rarely 6 or 9 Often with black wedges |
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| Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia San Francisco Gartersnake |
Usually 7 Occasionally 8, rarely 6 or 9 Often with black wedges |
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| Snake | Number of Upper Labial Scales |
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References Rossman, Douglas A., Neil B, Ford, & Richard A. Siegel. The Garter Snakes - Evolution and Ecology. University of Oklahoma press, 1996. Stebbins, Robert C. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003. St. John, Alan D. Reptiles of the Northwest: Alaska to California; Rockies to the Coast. Lone Pine Publishing, 2002. Brown, Philip R. A Field Guide to Snakes of California. Gulf Publishing Co., 1997. Behler, John L., & F. Wayne King. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992. Brown et. al. Reptiles of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, 1995. |
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