santa cruz aquatic garter snake

Thamnophis atratus ssp. atratus

Member of aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis atratus)
natricine snakes (subfamily Natricinae)
colubrid snakes (family Colubridae)
snakes (suborder Serpentes)
reptiles (class Reptilia)
animals (kingdom Animalia)

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• yellow top stripe
• faint yellow or missing side stripes
• dark/black body with no red spots
• Santa Cruz mountains south of Pacifica and west of Highway 17 and Santa Cruz
• north and east in the outer coastal range have significant intergrades among multiple subspecies

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Chris’s observations: 5 (all are research grade)

Locations:

• Big Basin SP
• El Corte de Madera OSP
• Foothills Nature Preserve, Palo Alto
• Huddart CP
• Windy Hill OSP

Months:

• Feb.: 1
• Mar.: 0
• Apr.: 0
• May: 1
• Jun.: 2
• Jul.: 0
• Aug.: 0
• Sep.: 0
• Oct.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist

Bay Area species: iNaturalist