Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans

Family Colubridae Description: Adults 24" to 42" in length. Color brown to gray; gray and light tan checkerboard pattern conspicuous in juveniles, darkens and becomes obscure with age. Light stripe down sides of body, becomes less prominent with age. Prominent light stripe down back on individuals from southeastern Colorado; stripe faint or absent elsewhere. Moderately slender body; keeled scales. Single anal plate. Elevation Range: Usually below 11,000', but has been found at 13,100' in San Miguel County, southwest Colorado. Subspecies in Colorado: Thamnophis elegans vagrans		Photo from Hammerson, 1986. Used with permission.
County Ref. County Ref. County Ref. County Ref. Adams H Dolores H La Plata H Pitkin H Alamosa H Douglas H Lake H Prowers SM3 Arapahoe H Eagle H Larimer H Pueblo H Archuleta H El Paso H Las Animas H Rio Blanco H Baca H Elbert H Lincoln  *  Rio Grande H Bent H Fremont H Logan   Routt H Boulder H Garfield H Mesa H Saguache H Chaffee H Gilpin H Mineral H San Juan H Cheyenne   Grand H Moffat H San Miguel H Clear Creek H Gunnison H Montezuma H Sedgwick   Conejos H Hinsdale H Montrose H Summit H Costilla H Huerfano H Morgan  *  Teller H Crowley  *  Jackson H Otero H Washington   Custer H Jefferson H Ouray H Weld H Delta H Kiowa  *  Park H Yuma   Denver LJL8 Kit Carson   Phillips