Snakes and Lizards in Your Pocket: A Guide to Reptiles of the Upper Midwest

Snakes

Common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis range: Eastern (T. s. sirtalis): IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH,WI; Red-sided (T. s. parietalis): IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD size: 16–26 inches, maximum 50 inches description: Medium-size dark brown or black snake with yellow or gray midback stripe and yellow stripe on sides confined to scale rows 2 and 3. Red-sided subspecies has red or orange bars separated by black bars on sides. Belly greenish or yellowish with 2 rows of black spots partially hidden by belly scales. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Meadows, marshes, woodlands, streams, city lots, parks similar species: Plains garter snake has stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4. Brown snake lacks stripe along sides, anal plate is divided. red-sided garter snake Plains garter snake Thamnophis radix range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD,WI size: 15–28 inches, maximum 43 inches description: Medium-size dark brown or black snake with orange-yellow midback stripe, yellow-gray stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4, 2 rows of black spots or blotches on sides. Black bars on lips, pair of brightly colored spots on top of head that may or may not touch. Belly gray-green with dark spots along edges. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Open grassy areas adjacent to water similar species: Common garter snake has stripe on sides on scale rows 2 and 3. Ribbon snakes have stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4 but are more slender with long tail one-quarter or more of total length. Eastern ribbon snake Thamnophis sauritus range: Eastern (T. s. sauritus): IL, IN, OH; Northern (T. s. septentrionalis): IL, IN, MI, OH, WI size: 18–26 inches, maximum 40 inches description: Medium-size, slender black snake with yellow or orange midback stripe and yellow stripes on sides on scale rows 3 and 4. May have pair of faint spots on top of head that never touch each other. Tail long, approximately one-third of total length. Belly greenish white, unmarked. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Vegetation adjacent to swamps, ponds, marshes, creeks, rivers similar species: Western ribbon snake has pair of spots on top of head that touch each other. Plains garter snake has stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4, tail less than one-quarter of total length. SNAKES SNAKES red-sided garter snake ➔ ➔ ➔ Rough green snake Opheodrys aestivus range: IL, IN, KS, MO, OH size: 22–32 inches, maximum 45.6 inches description: Slender, unpatterned bright green snake. Upper lip and lower portion of head yellow. Belly white, yellow, or pale greenish. Young grayish green. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. habitat: Moist habitats along waterways in woodlands, marsh or lake borders, woodland edges similar species: Smooth green snake is not as long, scales smooth. Smooth green snake Liochlorophis vernalis range: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD,WI size: 12–20 inches, maximum 26 inches description: Slender, unpatterned bright lime green snake. Yellow upper lip, cream to pale yellow belly. Young dark olive or bluish gray. Scales smooth, anal plate divided. habitat: Wet prairies, bogs, meadows , marsh borders, open woodlands similar species: Rough green snake is more slender and longer and has keeled scales. ➔ Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus range: IL, IN, IA, KS, MO, NE,WI size: 20–30 inches, maximum 48.5 inches description: Medium-size, slender black snake with orange midback stripe, yellow or greenish stripes on sides on scale rows 3 and 4, pair of brightly colored spots on top of head that touch each other. Tail more than one-quarter of total length but usually less than one-third. Belly greenish white, unmarked. Scales keeled, anal plate single. habitat: Vegetation adjacent to swamps, ponds, marshes, creeks, rivers similar species: Eastern ribbon snake may have pair of spots on top of head that do not touch each other. Plains garter snake has stripe on sides on scale rows 3 and 4, tail less than one-quarter of total length. ➔ ➔ ➔ Brown snake Storeria dekayi range: Midland (S. d. wrightorum): IL, IN, IA, MI, MO, OH,WI; Northern (S. d. dekayi): IN, MI, OH; Texas (S. d. texana): IA, KS, MN, MO, SD,WI size: 9–13 inches, maximum 20.75 inches description: Grayish brown to dark brown snake with 2 parallel rows of black spots on back...