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Reptiles & Amphibians

melanistic snake ID

18 years ago

I meant to post this awhile ago, but I kept forgetting to upload the pic. This is a melanistic snake that I found earlier this spring up in northern ohio at Crane Creek SP. It was out on log next to the boardwalk and the surounding area was mostly marsh. I figured that it was an eastern garter, because I had heard they had melanistic garters there. Is there anything else that it could be.

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (17)

herpfriend
18 years ago
Since the snake has keeled scales, it could also be a water snake. The head looks more like a garter snake than a water snake. So, I would go along with your assumption that it is a garter snake.
IndianaHerp
Original Author
18 years ago
I also thought it might be a water snake, simply because it was lying so close to the marsh (although I found both garters and waters in close proximity to the water). I have never heard of melanism in water snakes, but I dont know much about it.
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I just wrote out a big long answer discussing things like Racers, Watersnakes and Black Rats discussing the pros and cons of each......and then it occurred to me what it actually is! This is a melanistic (black) Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis). The melanistic (black or black-backed) morph is common in some areas in the north of the species range.
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picture
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chad_ks
18 years ago
I think that the body structure screams Nerodia.
chad
zackb
18 years ago
I agree - too robust for a garter snake.

Zack
IndianaHerp
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the confirmation,
I had an initial hunch that it wasn't a garter, but I guess I had never heard of a wild melanistic water snake and I had heard of garters that were like that.
kcmatt
18 years ago
Don't think so, robust or not, I think that is a melanistic garter.

Here some others kept by Alan Francis:

http://www.gartersnake.co.uk/mycollection.htm#Thamnophis%20sirtalis%20-%20Melanistic%20Eastern%20Garter%20Snake_1
zackb
18 years ago
You may have a point - the head does not really look like Nerodia. Can anyone give a definitive answer?

Zack
KeithB
18 years ago
The head looks like a garter to me.
kcmatt
18 years ago
Almost positive its a garter, more pics?
chad_ks
18 years ago
Could be a Garter, but it is a heavy bodied one if it is. The head is also a bit blunt for a Garter.
herpfriend
18 years ago
Nerodia sipedon (Northern watersnake) has 8-10 supralabials (upper lip scales) and Thamnophis sirtalis (Eastern garter snake)has 6-8 supralabials. I count 7 supralabials in the photo, so it appears to be Thamnophis.
Gary2sons_MO
18 years ago
Very interesting pic IndianaHerp! One of those posts that gets everyone thinking. Congrats on a very unusual find!
Kristy_SC
18 years ago
Female garters can be pretty stout bodied.
DaveOdd
18 years ago
If it eats an earthworm it's a Garter, if not it's a Water. No Garter Snake can refuse a juicy worm, however I have never known a Water Snake to even look twice at a worm.
designer62
18 years ago
It appears to be a "blue racer" I have so many of them here on my property in Michigan. They are non poisonous, but can deliver a nasty bite. They enjoy time spent sunning on warm days. They can grow as long as 4 to 5 feet as I have seen.
chad_ks
18 years ago
I am going to concur that it is a Garter. After comparing it with the pics Kcmatt put up, I think it must be. It has the look of a melanistic Nerodia and the body is massive for a Garter, but the labials and the look of the tail say Garter.
IndianaHerp
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for all of your input,
I agree that its a garter, but I couldn't have concluded that without everyones help. Its kind of fun to come upon something that cannot simply be quickly identified by referring to a field guide. I may have another tough ID for you guys here pretty soon. This ones a salamander problem.
-Andrew

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