Plains Garter Snake

Eutaenia radix, (Baird & Girard)

Colouration: Dark brown, olive or black above, with three very distinct, yellow stripes--those of the sides on the third and fourth rows of scales. The stripe on the back is rich yellow; the side stripes are usually of a considerably paler hue. Except with very dark specimens, there are two distinct rows of square black spots between the stripes.
Dimensions: Total Length. . . . . 32 inches.
Distribution: The common striped snake of the Central States, where it occurs over an extended area. It is found from western Ohio to the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Northward the range is into southern Canada and southward into northern Texas.
Habits: Although many specimens of this snake are found in dry areas, others frequent the neighborhood of streams and pools, where their habits are much like those of the water snakes. When alarmed they take to the water, and diving to the bottom wriggle among aquatic plants where they remain for some time. These specimens feed largely upon fishes. It is hardy as a captive, feeding voraciously upon frogs, toads and fishes. A large brood of living young is produced in August.

This very abundant snake of the plains region is stout in form, with broad and distinct head.

The abdomen is greenish, with black spots on the edges of the plates. The upper lip plates are yellow, heavily margined with black.

Although this species resembles the common garter snake (E. sirtalis) in stoutness of body; it may be at once recognised from the latter species by the presence of the lateral (side) stripe on the third and fourth rows of scales--this stripe with sirtalis being on the second and third rows of scales.

Length of Tail . . . . . 6 3/4 inches.

Greatest Diameter . . . . . 3/4 inches.

Width of Head . . . . . 3/4 inches.

Length of Head . . . . . 1 1/8 inches.