Garter snake vs. ribbon snake

bulrush · 05-14-2008, 08:14 AM

Just how do I tell the difference between a garter and ribbon snake? I hear they look very similar. Will the ribbon snake musk me when caught?

EdgyExoticReptiles · 05-14-2008, 08:29 AM

ribbons are more stripey, once you see two next to each other its pretty obvious, and yes ribbons do tend to be more scared
this is a ribbon:

so if you compare that picture with one of your easterns you can see their differences

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulrush

Just how do I tell the difference between a garter and ribbon snake? I hear they look very similar. Will the ribbon snake musk me when caught?

bulrush · 05-14-2008, 08:31 AM

So ribbons tend to have less color or pattern variation than easterns?

Because easterns are "stripey" too. But easterns can also be checkered or mottled.

aSnakeLovinBabe · 05-14-2008, 08:52 AM

here's how I tell the two apart:

-ribbons are much more narrow than garter snakes, they appear to be very thin and long, while garters are usually "chubby"
-ribbons are "stripey"... they have stripes and besides that, not much else in the way of a pattern.
-ribbons have a thin head, it doesn't get as wide as garters' heads do.
- if you look at the row of lip scales on a garter snakes top lip, you will notice that there are (usually) black markings in between each upper labial scale. Ribbons don't have that, they have cleanly colored labial scales.

I know there's more out there, but that's just what I go by. After a while of seeing garters and ribbons all the time, you tend to be able to tell them apart on first sight, without even realizing you are doing it.

Elliot · 05-14-2008, 02:25 PM

Ribbons also have a white kind of rectangle in front of their eye. And yes they can musk, I guess it depends on the snake's personality though.

Here's picture of a ribbon snake's head

aSnakeLovinBabe · 05-14-2008, 04:18 PM

ah ha! i knew I was forgetting something.. only the msot obvious thing about a ribbon.... lol!

bulrush · 05-15-2008, 06:01 AM

So a white rectangle in front of the eye means "it's definitely a ribbon snake" or "it's probably a ribbon snake"?

Thanks for all your tips BTW. I went back through the garter pics on this site and noticed the black lines on the edges of the "lip scales" on the side of the garter snake's face.

Stefan-A · 05-15-2008, 07:45 AM

Very, very likely a ribbon snake. Some racer has it and I've seen radix with it, but the overall appearance of the snake together with that white rectangle makes it very difficult to mistake those two.

KITKAT · 05-16-2008, 04:28 PM

Here is an absolutely excellent page on telling the difference between a garter and a ribbon, complete with photos.

Telling Garter Snakes and Ribbon Snakes Apart - gartersnake.info

bulrush · 05-19-2008, 07:08 AM

Excellent article! Thank you.

05-14-2008, 08:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
bulrush "First shed, A Success" Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 106 Country:	Garter snake vs. ribbon snake Just how do I tell the difference between a garter and ribbon snake? I hear they look very similar. Will the ribbon snake musk me when caught? __________________ "Oh, bother," said Pooh. And he imploded. I am the mighty Milquetoast! Prepare to be inconvenienced.

05-14-2008, 08:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
bulrush "First shed, A Success" Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 106 Country:	Re: Garter snake vs. ribbon snake So ribbons tend to have less color or pattern variation than easterns? Because easterns are "stripey" too. But easterns can also be checkered or mottled. __________________ "Oh, bother," said Pooh. And he imploded. I am the mighty Milquetoast! Prepare to be inconvenienced.

05-14-2008, 08:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
aSnakeLovinBabe "Fourth shed In Progress" Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 771 Country:	Re: Garter snake vs. ribbon snake here's how I tell the two apart: -ribbons are much more narrow than garter snakes, they appear to be very thin and long, while garters are usually "chubby" -ribbons are "stripey"... they have stripes and besides that, not much else in the way of a pattern. -ribbons have a thin head, it doesn't get as wide as garters' heads do. - if you look at the row of lip scales on a garter snakes top lip, you will notice that there are (usually) black markings in between each upper labial scale. Ribbons don't have that, they have cleanly colored labial scales. I know there's more out there, but that's just what I go by. After a while of seeing garters and ribbons all the time, you tend to be able to tell them apart on first sight, without even realizing you are doing it. __________________ Shannon<3Nicole 7.10 assorted adult garters. infinity baby garters. that which does not kill me , can only make me stronger.

05-14-2008, 02:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Elliot Mountaineer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Missouri City, TX Posts: 1,083 Country:	Re: Garter snake vs. ribbon snake Ribbons also have a white kind of rectangle in front of their eye. And yes they can musk, I guess it depends on the snake's personality though. Here's picture of a ribbon snake's head __________________ 1.1.1! T.p.orarius Gulf Coast Ribbon (Stanely & Femme) 0.0.1 T.s.pallidulus Maritime Garter (No Name) 0.1 Eublepharis macularius Normal Leo (Lemon) Shine on you crazy diamond

05-14-2008, 04:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
aSnakeLovinBabe "Fourth shed In Progress" Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 771 Country:	Re: Garter snake vs. ribbon snake ah ha! i knew I was forgetting something.. only the msot obvious thing about a ribbon.... lol! __________________ Shannon<3Nicole 7.10 assorted adult garters. infinity baby garters. that which does not kill me , can only make me stronger.

05-15-2008, 06:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
bulrush "First shed, A Success" Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 106 Country:	Re: Garter snake vs. ribbon snake So a white rectangle in front of the eye means "it's definitely a ribbon snake" or "it's probably a ribbon snake"? Thanks for all your tips BTW. I went back through the garter pics on this site and noticed the black lines on the edges of the "lip scales" on the side of the garter snake's face. __________________ "Oh, bother," said Pooh. And he imploded. I am the mighty Milquetoast! Prepare to be inconvenienced.

05-15-2008, 07:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
Stefan-A The Prince of Insufficient Light. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 4,801 Country:	Re: Garter snake vs. ribbon snake Very, very likely a ribbon snake. Some racer has it and I've seen radix with it, but the overall appearance of the snake together with that white rectangle makes it very difficult to mistake those two. __________________ Natura non contristatur

05-16-2008, 04:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
KITKAT Old and wise snake Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 883 Country:	Re: Garter snake vs. ribbon snake Here is an absolutely excellent page on telling the difference between a garter and a ribbon, complete with photos. Telling Garter Snakes and Ribbon Snakes Apart - gartersnake.info __________________ KitKat "Acts of kindness should never be random."

05-19-2008, 07:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
bulrush "First shed, A Success" Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 106 Country:	Re: Garter snake vs. ribbon snake Excellent article! Thank you. __________________ "Oh, bother," said Pooh. And he imploded. I am the mighty Milquetoast! Prepare to be inconvenienced.

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