San Francisco Gartersnake
Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia
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- T. s. tetrataenia – San Mateo Co, CA – photo by Patrick Briggs
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- T. s. tetrataenia – San Mateo Co, CA – photo by Patrick Briggs
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- T. s. tetrataenia – San Mateo Co, CA – photo by Patrick Briggs
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Thamnophis s. tetrataenia occurs only in California, on the San Francisco peninsula from southern San Francisco County to Santa Cruz County.
LEGAL STATUS: is listed as an Endangered Species under both the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia (Cope – 1875)
Genus: Thamnophis, Greek – thamnos = shrub or bush + ophis = snake, serpent
Species: sirtalis, Latin = like a garter
Subspecies: tetrataenia, Latin – tetra = four + taenia = stripes or bands – ref. parietal scales
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962