T. butleri is found in northwestern Ohio, northeastern Indiana, the eastern portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and the adjacent extreme southern tip of Ontario, Canada. Also, a disjunct population is found in southeastern Wisconsin.[4]
Description and identificationedit
T. butleri is a small, slender snake, averaging 38–51 cm (15–20 in) in total length (including tail), with three yellow to orange stripes along the length of its body. The background color can range from olive-brown to black, and it may also be possible to discern two rows of dark spots between the side and back stripes. These features do little to distinguish it from most other garter snakes species, but the placement of the lateral, or side, stripes is unique to this species. In Butler's garter snake the lateral stripes are centered on the third scale row up from the ventral scales, and they also overlap the adjacent second and fourth scale rows. This contrasts with the lateral stripe placement of other garter snake species.
For those hoping to avoid getting close enough to inspect the position of the lateral stripe, other features may help in their identification. The head is unusually small for a garter snake, and, when excited, the effort this snake expends to escape seems to go more towards thrashing in place than to getting away.
Ecologyedit
Butler's garter snake inhabits moist, grassy, open canopy areas, such as meadows, wet prairies, marshes, savannas, and grasslands. Like Kirtland's snake, it may also be found in grassy vacant lots in suburban and residential areas. The species can often be found under rocks, logs, trash, and boards. It subsists on a diet of mainly earthworms, but it may also eat leeches, salamanders, and frogs. The species hibernates communally, often with other garter snake species. Butler's garter snake is a relatively short-lived species, and it reaches sexual maturity in its second spring.
Reproductionedit
T. butleri is ovoviviparous. Mating takes place in late March and early April. The young are born in June or July, in broods of four to 14.[5] The newborns are 13–18 cm (5.1–7.1 in) long.[4]
^Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie Jr. (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN0-307-47009-1 (hardcover), ISBN0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Thamnophis butleri, pp. 146-147).
^Beolens, Bo, Michael Watkins, and Michael Grayson (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Thamnophis butleri, p. 44).
^ abConant, Roger. (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-48. ISBN0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Thamnophis butleri, p. 161 + Plate 23 + Map 113).
^Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Thamnophis butleri, pp. 251-252).
^Indiana Legislative Services Agency (2011), "312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians", Indiana Administrative Code, retrieved 28 Apr 2012
^Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, , archived from the original on 4 September 2015, retrieved 29 Apr 2013
Further readingedit
Behler, J.L., and F.W. King (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN0-394-50824-6. (Thamnophis butleri, p. 664 + Plate 529).
Cope, E.D. (1889). On the Eutæniæ of southeastern Indiana. Proc. United States Natl. Mus.11: 399–401. (Eutænia butleri, new species, p. 399).
Powell, R., R. Conant, and J.T. Collins (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp. ISBN978-0-544-12997-9. (Thamnophis butleri, pp. 426–427 + Plate 42).
Wright, A.H., and A.A. Wright (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). (Thamnophis radix butleri, pp. 816–820, Figure 236 + Map 58 on p. 763).
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thamnophis butleri.
Butler's Garter Snake at Animal Diversity Web
, Natural Resources Canada
January 01, 1970
butler, garter, snake, thamnophis, butleri, species, garter, snake, family, colubridae, species, endemic, north, america, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, chordata, class, rep. Butler s garter snake Thamnophis butleri is a species of garter snake in the family Colubridae The species is endemic to North America 1 Butler s garter snake Butler s garter snake Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Colubridae Genus Thamnophis Species T butleri Binomial name Thamnophis butleri Cope 1889 Synonyms Eutaenia butleri Cope 1889 Tropidonotus ordinatus Var butleri Boulenger 1893 Thamnophis butleri Stejneger 1895 Tropidonotus butleri Boulenger 1896 Eutaenia butlerii Cope 1900 Thamnophis butleri Stejneger amp Barbour 1917 Thamnophis butleri Schmidt amp Davis 1941 Thamnophis radix butleri Wright amp Wright 1957 Thamnophis butleri Conant 1975 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Geographic range 3 Description and identification 4 Ecology 5 Reproduction 6 Conservation status 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksEtymology editThe specific name butleri is in honor of ornithologist Amos Butler 1860 1937 of Brookville Indiana 2 3 Geographic range editT butleri is found in northwestern Ohio northeastern Indiana the eastern portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and the adjacent extreme southern tip of Ontario Canada Also a disjunct population is found in southeastern Wisconsin 4 Description and identification editT butleri is a small slender snake averaging 38 51 cm 15 20 in in total length including tail with three yellow to orange stripes along the length of its body The background color can range from olive brown to black and it may also be possible to discern two rows of dark spots between the side and back stripes These features do little to distinguish it from most other garter snakes species but the placement of the lateral or side stripes is unique to this species In Butler s garter snake the lateral stripes are centered on the third scale row up from the ventral scales and they also overlap the adjacent second and fourth scale rows This contrasts with the lateral stripe placement of other garter snake species For those hoping to avoid getting close enough to inspect the position of the lateral stripe other features may help in their identification The head is unusually small for a garter snake and when excited the effort this snake expends to escape seems to go more towards thrashing in place than to getting away Ecology editButler s garter snake inhabits moist grassy open canopy areas such as meadows wet prairies marshes savannas and grasslands Like Kirtland s snake it may also be found in grassy vacant lots in suburban and residential areas The species can often be found under rocks logs trash and boards It subsists on a diet of mainly earthworms but it may also eat leeches salamanders and frogs The species hibernates communally often with other garter snake species Butler s garter snake is a relatively short lived species and it reaches sexual maturity in its second spring Reproduction editT butleri is ovoviviparous Mating takes place in late March and early April The young are born in June or July in broods of four to 14 5 The newborns are 13 18 cm 5 1 7 1 in long 4 Conservation status editIn Indiana Butler s garter snake is listed as an endangered species 6 In Ontario the species is also listed as endangered 7 References edit Smith H M and E D Brodie Jr 1982 Reptiles of North America A Guide to Field Identification New York Golden Press 240 pp ISBN 0 307 47009 1 hardcover ISBN 0 307 13666 3 paperback Thamnophis butleri pp 146 147 Cope 1889 Beolens Bo Michael Watkins and Michael Grayson 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Thamnophis butleri p 44 a b Conant Roger 1975 A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America Second Edition Boston Houghton Mifflin xviii 429 pp Plates 1 48 ISBN 0 395 19979 4 hardcover ISBN 0 395 19977 8 paperback Thamnophis butleri p 161 Plate 23 Map 113 Schmidt K P and D D Davis 1941 Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada New York G P Putnam s Sons 365 pp Thamnophis butleri pp 251 252 Indiana Legislative Services Agency 2011 312 IAC 9 5 4 Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians Indiana Administrative Code retrieved 28 Apr 2012 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Butler s Gartersnake archived from the original on 4 September 2015 retrieved 29 Apr 2013Further reading editBehler J L and F W King 1979 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians New York Alfred A Knopf 743 pp ISBN 0 394 50824 6 Thamnophis butleri p 664 Plate 529 Cope E D 1889 On the Eutaeniae of southeastern Indiana Proc United States Natl Mus 11 399 401 Eutaenia butleri new species p 399 Powell R R Conant and J T Collins 2016 Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America Fourth Edition Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Harcourt xiv 494 pp ISBN 978 0 544 12997 9 Thamnophis butleri pp 426 427 Plate 42 Wright A H and A A Wright 1957 Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada Ithaca and London Comstock Publishing Associates a Division of Cornell University Press 1 105 pp in 2 volumes Thamnophis radix butleri pp 816 820 Figure 236 Map 58 on p 763 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thamnophis butleri Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management Indiana Purdue University Butler s Garter Snake at Animal Diversity Web Butler s Garter Snake Natural Resources Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Butler 27s garter snake amp oldid 1215729769, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
