Blackneck Garter Snake
Thamnophis cyrtopsis
Body length: 16 - 43"
Diet: Frogs, tadpoles, toads, crustaceans, and fish
Although garter snakes seem to be found commonly in certain parts of the US, in
desert regions they tend to be confined to stream areas. At Tonto National Monument,
the blackneck garter snake is seldom seen far from water, which occurs here in
only a few isolated springs and seeps.
Garter snakes are active during
both day and night, and use their keen eyesight to track down prey such as canyon
treefrogs and other amphibians. These snakes are
particularly adept at hunting treefrog tadpoles when they emerge in April and
May. They are also known to eat toads, frogs, earthworms, and fish.
NPS
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Updated
May 8, 2005