Kenneth L. Krysko photo.

Scientific name: Thamnophis sirtalis .

The following key will separate the two subspecies of garter snake that are found in Florida. If you are unable to distinguish between the subspecies using the characteristics in the key below, you probably can do so using 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 Withacoochee River north to Wakulla County.	Bluestripe garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis similis

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Checklist of Florida Amphibians and Reptiles — Florida Herpetology