Sierra garter snake

Thamnophis couchii, commonly known as Couch's garter snake, the Sierra garter snake, or the western aquatic garter snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the western United States.

Sierra garter snake
Thamnophis couchii being handled by a naturalist on the banks of the Middle Tuolumne River in the Sierra Nevada.
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Thamnophis
Species:	T. couchii
Binomial name
Thamnophis couchii (Kennicott, 1859)
Synonyms[2]
Eutaenia couchii Kennicott, 1859 Thamnophis ordinoides couchii — Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1921 Thamnophis couchii — Fitch, 1984

Etymology

The specific name couchii is in honor of Darius Nash Couch, who was a U.S. Army officer and a naturalist.^[3]

Geographic range

T. couchii is native to California and Oregon in the United States.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of T. couchii are freshwater wetlands and permanent or temporary bodies of water in grassland, shrubland, and forest.^[1]

Behavior

T. couchii is highly aquatic.^[1]

Reproduction

T. couchii is viviparous.^[2]