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Thamnophis couchii

(Kennicott, 1859)

Sierra Gartersnake

G4Apparently Secure Found in 76 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105516
Element CodeARADB36030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusThamnophis
Other Common Names
Sierra Garter Snake (EN) Western Aquatic Garter Snake (EN)
Concept Reference
Rossman, D. A., N. B. Ford, and R. A. Seigel. 1996. The garter snakes: evolution and ecology. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. xx + 332 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
Thamnophis hammondii, T. gigas, and T. atratus (including subspecies hydrophilus and aquaticus) formerly were included in Thamnophis couchii but now are recognized as distinct species (Rossman et al. 1996, Crother et al. 2000, 2003, 2008; Ernst and Ernst 2003).
Conservation Status
Review Date2006-09-06
Change Date1996-10-30
Edition Date2006-09-06
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Range Extent Comments
The range includes the Sierra Nevada, California, north to the Pit River, south to the Tehachapi Mountains, and extends east along major rivers to the Owens Valley and west-central Nevada, at elevations of about 90-2,440 meters (300-8,000 feet) (Rossman et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations).
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats are known. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some populations may be declining as a result of predation by introduced non-native fishes (Rossmand et al. 1996).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitats of this highly aquatic snake include pools of permanent or seasonal streams (often rocky), meadow ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and associated riparian zones (e.g., cottonwood, willow, sycamore, alder), in areas with oak woodland, grassy valleys, chaparral, montane coniferous forest, or (east of the Sierra crest) pine-juniper-sagebrush (Rossman et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003).

Reproduction

Viviparous. See Hansen (2002, Herpetol. Rev. 33:142).
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS3Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
Roadless Areas (76)
California (65)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
Barney RileyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,083
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
Chips CreekPlumas National Forest12,940
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Dennison PeakSequoia National Forest6,293
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Duncan CanyonTahoe National Forest8,621
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Fawn LakeEldorado National Forest1,153
Ferguson RidgeSierra National Forest6,104
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
IshiLassen National Forest21,805
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
Kings RiverSierra National Forest52,999
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
Mill CreekLassen National Forest7,587
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
MonarchSierra National Forest697
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mystic (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest836
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North Fork Middle Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest11,245
North MountainStanislaus National Forest7,856
Oat Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,223
Poison HoleEldorado National Forest2,627
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rose - IcelandHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,171
RubiconEldorado National Forest4,872
Salt SpringsEldorado National Forest133
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
Silver HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,423
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Sycamore SpringsSierra National Forest10,015
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Trumbull PeakStanislaus National Forest6,164
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
West YubaPlumas National Forest6,071
West YubaTahoe National Forest16,059
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Nevada (11)
AreaForestAcres
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Rose - Alum CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest853
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest311
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rose - North NotchHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest141
Rose - NortheastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest550
Rose - VerdiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,155
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
References (13)
  1. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  2. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  3. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  4. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  5. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  6. Crother, B. I., J. Boundy, J. A. Campbell, K. de Queiroz, D. R. Frost, R. Highton, J. B. Iverson, P. A. Meylan, T. W. Reeder, M. E. Seidel, J. W. Sites, Jr., T. W. Taggart, S. G. Tilley, and D. B. Wake. 2000 [2001]. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular No. 29. 82 pp.
  7. Crother, B. I., J. Boundy, J. A. Campbell, K. de Quieroz, D. Frost, D. M. Green, R. Highton, J. B. Iverson, R. W. McDiarmid, P. A. Meylan, T. W. Reeder, M. E. Seidel, J. W. Sites, Jr., S. G. Tilley, and D. B. Wake. 2003. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico: update. Herpetological Review 34:198-203.
  8. Ernst, C. H., and E. M. Ernst. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Books, Washington, D.C.
  9. Fitch, H. S. 1984. <i>Thamnophis couchii</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 351.1-351.3.
  10. Lawson, R. 1987. Molecular studies of thamnophiine snakes: 1. The phylogeny of the genus <i>Nerodia</i>. J. Herpetology 21:140-157.
  11. Rossman, D. A., N. B. Ford, and R. A. Seigel. 1996. The garter snakes: evolution and ecology. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. xx + 332 pp.
  12. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  13. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.