Plains Gartersnake
Thamnophis radix
Size
Up to 20 in
Status
Uncommon
Venomous
No
Region
NW Indiana
A prairie-adapted garter snake at the eastern edge of its range in Indiana. Harmless and boldly striped.
Identification
A garter snake with a bright orange or yellow mid-back stripe and lighter side stripes, with black bars along the lips. The pattern is more vivid than the Eastern Garter Snake. Adults are typically under 20 inches.
Habitat & Diet
A snake of prairies, grasslands, and marsh edges, tolerant of open and even disturbed habitats. It feeds on earthworms, amphibians, and small prey.
Conservation in Indiana
Uncommon in Indiana, limited by the loss of native prairie in the northwest. It persists in grassland remnants and restored prairies.
Similar Species & Taxonomy
A striped snake with a bright orange or yellow mid-back stripe, black bars on the lips, and rows of dark spots between the stripes; these marks separate it from Indiana's other gartersnakes and ribbonsnakes. A gartersnake (family Colubridae; watersnakes and their kin are often split into the family Natricidae) of the genus Thamnophis. A prairie species formerly divided into eastern and western subspecies that are no longer recognized.
United States Range Map Distribution
Distribution in Indiana
