Name of light blue stripe garter?

bulrush · 05-05-2008, 05:54 AM

I'm in west Michigan.

Sunday I found a typical olive garter with a yellow stripe on each side, but the top stripe was a light blue. Is this an eastern garter variety? What variation is this one?

I thought I saw a pic of this variety on this site but am unable to find it.

Thanks.

drache · 05-05-2008, 06:10 AM

it sounds like it could be some kind of radix morph
did you take photos (I hope)?

bulrush · 05-05-2008, 07:19 AM

No, I did not bring my camera. I am keeping a log of where and when I catch snakes, the time of day, weather, temperature, and length and coloration of each snake.

Is the radix morph found in wester lower Michigan (Kent county)?

Do you have a link to a radix image showing the blue stripe?

I mean, it looked just like some of the olive colored snakes on the thread "Easterns I have met", but the dorsal stripe is a light blue.

anji1971 · 05-05-2008, 08:49 AM

It could simply be another Eastern. They have amazing variation in their colouring. I'm not sure about where radix are found. Something to look into, though. If the geographic areas meet, it could even be a mix.

drache · 05-05-2008, 09:44 AM

if Michigan is that state nestled between the great lakes, then the southwestern most patch of it, south of the lake, would be the only part of the state that has radix (according to snakefinder)
and of course it could always be a sirtalis

adamanteus · 05-05-2008, 10:27 AM

I think your snake will almost certainly prove to be an Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. That said, it would be nice if we could confirm it with a photograph.

enigma200316 · 05-05-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamanteus

I think your snake will almost certainly prove to be an Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. That said, it would be nice if we could confirm it with a photograph.

I agree with James on this..........please try to get a pic......

EdgyExoticReptiles · 05-05-2008, 11:15 AM

most likely an eastern, could be a ribbon but i think its just an eastern

Sid · 05-05-2008, 01:29 PM

Odds are it is an Eastern Garter, but you also have the Nothern Ribbon Snakes and Butlers Garter there. Check this link for snakes in your state. I believe the Butlers range is rather limited there. DNR - Michigan's Snakes

beerg69 · 06-11-2008, 05:57 PM

I don't know what kind it is, but I found 2 of them today during my internship in Saukville, WI. The top stripe is very blueish/gray in color, right? One thing we noticed is kind of a checkerboard pattern just behind their heads on the bottom few scales. They are much bigger than butler's and one of them bit me, so beware. haha.

We also found a very reddish looking butler's in the same area. I also did not have a camera, but will be working at that site for the next 2 years... hopefully I can find one again and get a pic.

05-05-2008, 05:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
bulrush "First shed, A Success" Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 106 Country:	Name of light blue stripe garter? I'm in west Michigan. Sunday I found a typical olive garter with a yellow stripe on each side, but the top stripe was a light blue. Is this an eastern garter variety? What variation is this one? I thought I saw a pic of this variety on this site but am unable to find it. Thanks. __________________ "Oh, bother," said Pooh. And he imploded. I am the mighty Milquetoast! Prepare to be inconvenienced.

05-05-2008, 06:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
drache Ophiuchus rhea Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 3,984 Country:	Re: Name of light blue stripe garter? it sounds like it could be some kind of radix morph did you take photos (I hope)? __________________ rhea

05-05-2008, 07:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
bulrush "First shed, A Success" Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 106 Country:	Re: Name of light blue stripe garter? No, I did not bring my camera. I am keeping a log of where and when I catch snakes, the time of day, weather, temperature, and length and coloration of each snake. Is the radix morph found in wester lower Michigan (Kent county)? Do you have a link to a radix image showing the blue stripe? I mean, it looked just like some of the olive colored snakes on the thread "Easterns I have met", but the dorsal stripe is a light blue. __________________ "Oh, bother," said Pooh. And he imploded. I am the mighty Milquetoast! Prepare to be inconvenienced.

05-05-2008, 08:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
anji1971 Finder of unique Garters Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Windsor, Ontario Posts: 2,256 Country:	Re: Name of light blue stripe garter? It could simply be another Eastern. They have amazing variation in their colouring. I'm not sure about where radix are found. Something to look into, though. If the geographic areas meet, it could even be a mix. __________________ Anji

05-05-2008, 09:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
drache Ophiuchus rhea Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 3,984 Country:	Re: Name of light blue stripe garter? if Michigan is that state nestled between the great lakes, then the southwestern most patch of it, south of the lake, would be the only part of the state that has radix (according to snakefinder) and of course it could always be a sirtalis __________________ rhea

05-05-2008, 10:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 7,966 Country:	Re: Name of light blue stripe garter? I think your snake will almost certainly prove to be an Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. That said, it would be nice if we could confirm it with a photograph. __________________ James.

05-05-2008, 11:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
EdgyExoticReptiles Edgy Exotic Reptiles Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,260 Country:	Re: Name of light blue stripe garter? most likely an eastern, could be a ribbon but i think its just an eastern __________________ Email: edgyexoticreptiles@yahoo.com AIM: reed_kamsla http://www.edgyexoticreptiles.com

05-05-2008, 01:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
Sid Thamnophis Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,633 Country:	Re: Name of light blue stripe garter? Odds are it is an Eastern Garter, but you also have the Nothern Ribbon Snakes and Butlers Garter there. Check this link for snakes in your state. I believe the Butlers range is rather limited there. DNR - Michigan's Snakes __________________ Sid 6.7 T. s sirtalis- Eastern Garter 0.1.5 T. s pinkeringii- Puget 1.1 T. e vagrans- Wandering Garter 1.0 T. s sackenii- Peninsular Ribbon

06-11-2008, 05:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
beerg69 Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 Country:	Re: Name of light blue stripe garter? I don't know what kind it is, but I found 2 of them today during my internship in Saukville, WI. The top stripe is very blueish/gray in color, right? One thing we noticed is kind of a checkerboard pattern just behind their heads on the bottom few scales. They are much bigger than butler's and one of them bit me, so beware. haha. We also found a very reddish looking butler's in the same area. I also did not have a camera, but will be working at that site for the next 2 years... hopefully I can find one again and get a pic.

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