Species profile
Checkered Gartersnake
Thamnophis marcianus
At a glance
Checkered Gartersnake (Thamnophis marcianus) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 6,842 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for its bold black-and-white checkered pattern running along both sides.
- Found near water sources across the southwestern United States and throughout much of Mexico.
- Eats frogs, fish, toads, and earthworms — one of the most varied gartersnake diets.
- Like all gartersnakes, it gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
- Releases a pungent musk from cloacal glands when threatened by predators.
Where Checkered Gartersnake are seen
Background
The checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) is a species of garter snake endemic to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Checkered Gartersnake article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.