snakes

suborder Serpentes

Member of reptiles (class Reptilia)
animals (kingdom Animalia)

There are other wild members of this suborder not yet included in this guide.

Identification tips are from California Herps.

garter snakes
genus Thamnophis

garter snakes
genus Thamnophis

one stripe on top plus stripes low on each side

stripes may be faint or absent

pacific gopher snake
Pituophis catenifer ssp. catenifer

pacific gopher snake
Pituophis catenifer ssp. catenifer

no rattle
slightly triangular head, but not as wide as the rattle snake’s
glossy body
round pupils

northern pacific rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus ssp. oreganus

northern pacific rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus ssp. oreganus

rattle
wide triangular head
non-glossy body
vertical-slit pupils

kingsnakes
genus Lampropeltis

pacific ringneck snake
Diadophis punctatus ssp. amabilis

pacific ringneck snake
Diadophis punctatus ssp. amabilis

gray/black back
orange belly and orange ring around neck

sharp-tailed snakes
genus Contia

striped racer
Masticophis lateralis

10 observed taxons / 4 unobserved taxons / 7 keys

Chris’s observations: 43 (all are research grade)

Locations:

Henry Coe SP: 11
Castle Rock SP: 3
Calero CP: 2
Joseph D. Grant CP: 2
Mt. Diablo SP: 2
Sunol Wilderness RP: 2
Almaden Quicksilver CP
Big Basin SP
Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve
Coyote Hills RP
Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP
Desolation Wilderness
Ed R. Levin CP
El Corte de Madera OSP
Foothills Nature Preserve, Palo Alto
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP - Fall Creek Unit
Huddart CP
Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland
Monte Bello OSP
Mt. Madonna SP
Pinnacles NP
Russian Ridge OSP
Sierra Vista OSP
Skyline Ridge OSP
Wilder Ranch SP
Windy Hill OSP

Months:

Feb.: 1
Mar.: 2
Apr.: 13
May: 10
Jun.: 7
Jul.: 3
Aug.: 2
Sep.: 1
Oct.: 2
Nov.: 1
Dec.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist

Bay Area species: iNaturalist