Snake

Not sure what kind of snake this is. Please identify it if you know it.

comments (16)

Claire Hamilton

Lion

Looks like a Black mamba, the white ring around the pupil is consistent. Where did you take the photo? Posted 9 years ago
1. FinnEagle
  
  Bullet Ant
  
  Thank you very much. I took this in Maine. It was slithering through the grass. Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. Claire Hamilton
    
    Lion
    
    Can't be a mamba then as they are only in Africa, I will have another think! Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. FinnEagle
      
      Bullet Ant
      
      yes, I researched the mamba after I replied to your comment and saw it was a poisonous snake and then remembered there are no poisonous snakes in Maine :) Posted 9 years ago
    2. 1. Claire Hamilton
        
        Lion
        
        It would appear there are only nine snake species in Maine and the closest I can find is the Northern black racer, but in your photo there appears to be some markings on the back which the racer does not have. I need to have another look, not very good with snakes outside Africa I'm afraid. Actually, not very good with snakes at all, but I shall try!!! Posted 9 years ago
      2. WildFlower
        
        Lion
        
        I think it could be a Thamnophis but I am not sure which (sub)species. The scales don't match exactly though.
        http://www.maineherp.org/index.php?display=native_species&show=snakes
        
        I'll ask John Sullivan for help. Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
        
        John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        WildFlower has tracked this one down well. Definitely Thamnophis sirtalis (Common Garter Snake). The subspecies are rather loosely defined. That webpage WildFlower linked to lists both T. s. sirtalis and T. s. pallidulus as common in Maine, but range maps I've looked at show only T. s. pallidulus in Maine, with the border between those two subspecies being just outside of Maine. So calling it T. s. pallidulus would be your best bet if you wanted to get to the subspecies level. The further it was from the New Hampshire border the more confident you can be of that subspecies ID. Posted 9 years ago
        
        WildFlower
        
        Lion
        
        Thank you, John. There is no specific page for the subspecies T. s. pallidulus in Wikipedia so unless you have the information to create one in the JD database, I would be happy with a species ID. Posted 9 years ago
        
        FinnEagle
        
        Bullet Ant
        
        Thank you everyone for all of your help with identifying this photo! I appreciate it!!!
        I thought maybe Garter Snake too. @John, I took this pic near the center of Maine. You can see where I geotagged it. So should I identify the species as T. s. pallidulus? Posted 9 years ago
        
        John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        Yes, that would be a solid ID for the middle of Maine. As WildFlower notes, there is not currently a "species" record for Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus in the JD database, but I'll make one now and let you know when it's done. Posted 9 years ago
        
        John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        I have made the "species" record for Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus now, so you can now identify this photo as that "species". Posted 9 years ago
        
        FinnEagle
        
        Bullet Ant
        
        Wow! I will check it out right now thank you!! Where do I find it? Posted 9 years ago
        
        FinnEagle
        
        Bullet Ant
        
        Okay, Yes that would be great! Thank you again for all of your help! Posted 9 years ago
        
        FinnEagle
        
        Bullet Ant
        
        Okay, Yes that would be great! Thank you again for all of your help! Posted 9 years ago

FinnEagle

Bullet Ant

Thank you very much Claire and WildFlower! I really appreciate the help! @WildFlower, I was thinking maybe a Garter snake too but not sure :) Posted 9 years ago

John Sullivan

Lion

Looks like you figured out how to do the ID. Congrats on the first JungleDragon photo of a Maritime Gartersnake! Posted 9 years ago

The Maritime Gartersnake

Thamnophis sirtalis pallidulus (Maritime Gartersnake) is a subspecies of the widespread Thamnophis sirtalis (Common Gartersnake). This subspecies is native to extreme northeast USA (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont) and to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and much of the southern part of Québec. To the south and east its range meets the range of Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (Eastern Gartersnake). There is some disagreement about whether T. s. pallidulus is a valid subspecies, since T. s. sirtalis is already.. more

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Similar species: Snakes And Lizards

Species identified by FinnEagle