Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis  (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomic Comments:

Benton (1980 Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society 68: 307-323), in a detailed study, concluded that the race semifasciatus did not deserve recognition. Rossman et al. (1996 The Garter Snakes. Evolution and Ecology. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Pages 264-2658) disagreed and recommended continued recognition of this subspecies. Collins (1997 Herpetological Circular 25: 1-40), presented the conclusions of Benton (1980) and Rossman et al. (1996) to his snake systematist group, composed of John E. Cadle, Brian I. Crother, Harry W. Greene, L. Lee Grismer, James A. MacMahon, James R. McCranie, and Samuel S. Sweet, and the majority of those individuals responding recommended that semifasciatus not be recognized. Collins (1997) followed that recommendation. Meshaka, Loftus, & Steiner (2000 Florida Scientist 63(2): 84-103) presented evidence questioning the validity of the subspecies, Thamnophis sirtalis similis Rossman 1965. Collins & Taggart (2002 Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians. Fifth Edition) submitted for consideration the proposal by Meshaka, Loftus, and Steiner (2000 op. cit.) to a snake systematist group composed of Frank T. Burbrink, Jeff Camper, Harry W. Greene, L. Lee Grismer, Robin Lawson, James R. McCranie, Andrew H. Price, Javier Rodriguez-Robles, and Samuel S. Sweet, and they agreed.