just wondering

[ConcinusMan]

So basically...what I was originally saying...that any subspecies of garter falling under the species of T.sirtalis technically can be referred to as a common garter...is correct then?

Yes. You are correct. However, each subspecies also has its own common name, i.e. "red spotted" , "Valley garter", etc.

I meant not considered a subspecies and is its own species

well in that case, T. ordinoides has no subspecies, nor does T. radix or T. gigas.

all T. sirtalis' are split into subspecies. its just that eastern garters were described first, so their species and subspecies name is "sirtalis"

maybe this will answer your question: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake#Taxonomy