Is this a garter snake?

[Stefan-A]

So that leaves us with visually apparent differences. I have to admit, if I held a "ribbon" snake in my presence, I would see it as such. I would not mistake it for a "garter" snake. I've seen many garters. I've seen many ribbon snakes. There's a distinct difference even if it's not apparent to the layman or to genetics.

There's a distinct visually apparent difference. I have not seen a single ribbon snake that I could mistake for a garter. If you know what I mean.

Another bunch of garters that don't "look like garters":

Sumichrast's garter snake
Mexican Black-Bellied Garter Snake
Tamaulipan Montane Garter Snake
Southern Durango Spotted Garter Snake
Narrow-Headed Garter Snake
Mexican Pacific Lowlands Garter Snake

Compared to these, T. proximus and T. sauritus DO "look like garters". I could also add several other garters that look a lot more like these two, when comes to body type.

One final note: "ribbon snakes" used to be "ribbon snake".