Common Garter Snake
NON-VENOMOUS
Scientific name: Thamnophis sirtalis (LINNAEUS 1766)
The following key will separate the two Garter Snakes found in Florida. If you are unable to distinguish between them based on the characteristics in the key below, you probably can do so using the geographic location alone.
| 1a | Yellow side stripes; peninsular Florida north to Newfoundland and west to Ontario and eastern Texas. | Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis |
| 1b | Bluish side stripes; the Gulf coast of peninsular Florida from the Withlacoochee River north to Wakulla County. | Bluestripe Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis similis |
