Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis
Western Blackneck Garter Snake

Santa Rita Mts., Arizona. August 1, 2000

What a find these were!  We saw many Blacknecks as we walked along the small creek at the bottom of a canyon. Most of the ones we saw were either juveniles or small males, and they tended to lie in shallow water with their heads exposed (see bottom photo)  The two black blotches between the stripe on either side of the neck are a dead giveaway.

This snake tends to stick to places with permanent water during the hot and dry periods of the season, but can be found away from water at other times of the year.  They feed on tadpoles and small frogs, salamander larvae, fish, and earthworms.