AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Common Garter Snake profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 50 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Thamnophis sirtalis. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysA North American snake
The source saysThey occur throughout much of North AmericaNote: tagline range
The page saysMeadows, marshes, woodlands and hillsides, often near water, across much of North America
The source saysincluding meadows, marshes, woodlands, and hillsidesNote: stats.habitat
The page saysoften near water, across much of North America
The source saysThey are often found near water, such as near the edges of ponds, lakes, ditches, and streamsNote: stats.habitat
The page saysacross much of North America
The source saysThey occur throughout much of North AmericaNote: stats.habitat
The page saysTypically earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes
The source saysCommon garter snakes typically eat earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes.Note: stats.diet
The page saysCommon garter snakes grow to 46 to 137 cm in total length
The source saysCommon garter snakes grow to be 46 to 137 cm in total length.
The page saysthe average is 88 cm
The source saysAverage length 88.00 cm
The page saysNewborns measure 12.5 to 23 cm.
The source saysYoung common garter snakes are born at 12.5 to 23 cm long
The page saysCommon garter snakes live throughout eastern North America from Florida to coastal Quebec, and west to British Columbia.
The source saysCommon garter snakes are found throughout eastern North America from Florida to coastal Quebec, west to British Columbia
The page saysThey use meadows, marshes, woodlands and hillsides, and they tend to prefer moist, grassy places, often near the edges of ponds, lakes, ditches and streams.
The source saysThey tend to prefer moist, grassy environments. They are often found near water, such as near the edges of ponds, lakes, ditches, and streams
The page saysThey use meadows, marshes, woodlands and hillsides
The source saysincluding meadows, marshes, woodlands, and hillsides
The page saysThey typically eat earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes.
The source saysCommon garter snakes typically eat earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes.
The page saysThey find prey with their sense of smell and their vision, and hunt by peering, craning and ambushing.
The source saysCommon garter snakes find their prey using their excellent sense of smell and their vision. They use several different hunting methods, such as peering, craning, and ambushing to capture their prey.
The page saysLike other snakes, they swallow food whole.
The source saysLike other snakes, they swallow their food whole.
The page saysStripes make a garter snake hard to see in grassy areas.
The source saysTheir stripes make them difficult to see properly and capture in grassy areas.
The page saysIt relies on stealth and camouflage, and it flees into water to escape predators on land.
The source saysThey rely on stealth and camouflage for protection, and will flee into water to escape predators on land.
The page saysHawks, raccoons and great blue herons are among the animals that eat it.
The source sayshawks , great blue herons , raccoons , foxes , squirrels , and shrews are some of the animals that prey on common garter snakesNote: hawks, herons, raccoons listed
The page saysIf unable to flee, it coils to look larger and may strike and bite.
The source saysIf unable to flee they coil to make themselves appear larger, and may strike and bite.
The page saysIf grabbed, it writhes and releases a foul-smelling secretion. It also urinates on its attacker.
The source saysIf grabbed, these snakes writhe and release a foul-smelling secretion; they will also urinate on their attacker.
The page saysGarter snakes hibernate from late October through March or early April, in natural cavities or burrows such as rodent burrows, crayfish burrows, rock piles or stumps.
The source saysThey hibernate from late October through March or early April
The page saysin natural cavities or burrows such as rodent burrows, crayfish burrows, rock piles or stumps
The source saysCommon garter snakes hibernate in natural cavities or burrows, such as rodent burrows, crayfish burrows, under rock piles, or in stumps.
The page saysThey gather in large numbers at good hibernation sites.
The source sayscongregate in large numbers at good places to hibernate over the winter
The page saysLying together in tight coils, they can prevent heat loss and keep their bodies warmer.
The source saysLying together and forming tight coils, garter snakes can prevent heat loss and keep their bodies warmer.
The page saysMating starts in spring as soon as they emerge.
The source saysThese snakes begin mating in the spring as soon as they emerge from hibernation.
The page saysMales leave the den first and wait for the females.
The source saysThe males leave the den first and wait for the females to exit.
The page saysOnce the females leave, the males surround them.
The source saysOnce the females leave the den the males surround them.
The page saysFemales give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
The source saysThe mother gives birth to live young, she doesn't lay eggs.
The page saysMost litters hold 10 to 40 babies, and larger females have larger litters.
The source saysMost litters range from 10 to 40 young and litter size depends on the size of the female, with larger females giving birth to larger litters.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web says the snake's reputation as harmless is well deserved.
The source saystheir reputation as harmless snakes is well deserved
The page saysIt describes allergic reactions to the saliva of a biting garter snake as extremely rare.
The source saysOn very rare occasions people have been known to have allergic reactions to common garter snake saliva after handling one and being bitten. These are extremely rare
The page saysthey appear to be immune to the toxic skin secretions of toads and can eat them without harm
The source saysThey seem immune to the toxic skin secretions of toads and can eat them without harm.Note: faq 4; 'appear to be' keeps the source's 'seem'
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web puts the average wild lifespan at about two years and says most probably die in their first year.
The source saysThe average lifespan of wild common garter snakes is approximately two years. Most common garter snakes probably die in their first year of life.Note: faq 3
The page saysCaptive snakes live longer, between 6 and 10 years.
The source saysThe lifespan of common garter snakes kept in captivity is longer, between 6 and 10 years.Note: faq 3
The page saysdangerLevel: Low
The source saystheir reputation as harmless snakes is well deservedNote: stats.dangerLevel; allergic reactions to a bite are 'extremely rare'

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Thamnophis sirtalis. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysAn adult weighs about 150 g.
The source saysAdult weight 150 g
The page saysAnAge lists a maximum longevity of 14 years, recorded in captivity.
The source saysMaximum longevity 14 years (captivity)
The page saysweightKg: 0.15
The source saysAdult weight 150 gNote: battleStats.weightKg; AnAge average

Source
03

Brodie, Ridenhour & Brodie 2002

Brodie, Ridenhour & Brodie (2002). THE EVOLUTIONARY RESPONSE OF PREDATORS TO DANGEROUS PREY: HOTSPOTS AND COLDSPOTS IN THE GEOGRAPHIC MOSAIC OF COEVOLUTION BETWEEN GARTER SNAKES AND NEWTS.

The page saysResearchers tested over 2,900 garter snakes from 40 populations in western North America.
The source saysWe assayed TTX resistance in over 2900 garter snakes representing 333 families from 40 populations throughout western North America.
The page saysResistance varied by over three orders of magnitude among populations, even over short distances.
The source saysResistance levels vary substantially (over three orders of magnitude) among populations and over short distances.
The page saysThe study found two hotspots of resistance, and its phylogenetic data indicate the two evolved independently.
The source saysphylogenetic information indicates that two hotspots of TTX resistance have evolved independently

Source
04

Geffeney et al. 2002

Geffeney et al. (2002). Mechanisms of Adaptation in a Predator-Prey Arms Race: TTX-Resistant Sodium Channels. Science.

The page saysA North American snake, some of whose populations have evolved resistance to the toxin of the newts they eat.
The source saysPopulations of the garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis have evolved geographically variable resistance to tetrodotoxin (TTX) in a coevolutionary arms race with their toxic prey, newts of the genus Taricha.Note: tagline; range is claim 2
The page saysSome populations resist tetrodotoxin, the toxin of the newts they eat
The source saysPopulations of the garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis have evolved geographically variable resistance to tetrodotoxin (TTX) in a coevolutionary arms race with their toxic prey, newts of the genus Taricha.Note: stats.superpower
The page saysSome populations of the common garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, prey on newts of the genus Taricha.
The source saysPopulations of the garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis have evolved geographically variable resistance to tetrodotoxin (TTX) in a coevolutionary arms race with their toxic prey, newts of the genus Taricha.
The page saysThose newts carry tetrodotoxin (TTX), a toxin.
The source saysresistance to tetrodotoxin (TTX) in a coevolutionary arms race with their toxic prey, newts of the genus TarichaNote: the toxin is the prey's: 'resistance to tetrodotoxin ... with their toxic prey'
The page saysGarter snake populations have evolved resistance to it, to different degrees in different places, in an arms race with their toxic prey.
The source saysPopulations of the garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis have evolved geographically variable resistance to tetrodotoxin (TTX) in a coevolutionary arms race with their toxic prey, newts of the genus Taricha.Note: 'to different degrees in different places' paraphrases 'geographically variable'
The page saysResearchers traced the resistance to TTX-resistant sodium channels in skeletal muscle
The source sayswe identify a physiological mechanism, the expression of TTX-resistant sodium channels in skeletal muscle, responsible for adaptive diversification in whole-animal resistance
The page saysSome common garter snake populations have evolved resistance to tetrodotoxin in an arms race with their toxic prey, newts of the genus Taricha
The source saysPopulations of the garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis have evolved geographically variable resistance to tetrodotoxin (TTX) in a coevolutionary arms race with their toxic prey, newts of the genus Taricha.Note: vibe.reason
The page saystags: immune-tank
The source saysthe expression of TTX-resistant sodium channels in skeletal muscle, responsible for adaptive diversification in whole-animal resistanceNote: tags; cellular defence against a lethal neurotoxin

Source
05

Mason et al. 1989

Mason et al. (1989). Sex Pheromones in Snakes. Science.

The page saysIn the Canadian red-sided garter snake (the subspecies T. s. parietalis), the female's attractiveness pheromone is a series of long-chain methyl ketones, while the male's recognition pheromone contains squalene.
The source saysThe female sex attractiveness pheromone of the Canadian red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, consists of a novel series of nonvolatile saturated and monounsaturated long-chain methyl ketones, whereas the male sex recognition pheromone contains squalene.

Source
06

Frost, Hammerson & Santos-Barrera 2015

Frost, Hammerson & Santos-Barrera (2015). Thamnophis sirtalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T62240A68308267.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus; category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List (api.gbif.org/v1/species/2457522/iucnRedListCategory), assessed 2007

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.