Dunia Ya Uzuri

The Garter Snake is an adorable type of snake belonging to the genus Thamnophis. They’re a very common  species of snake, commonly kept as pets, which inhabits a variety of locations. There’s absolutely no reason to be scared of these snakes, since overall, they only reach a length of about 3 feet, or just under 1 meter. The Vomeronasal organ in their mouth detects chemical stimuli, such as pheromones. Combining this with their normal senses makes them sleek and agile predators. Only slithering along in search of a meal during the cooler parts of the day, when the sun is just rising or falling, feed on a variety of things depending on the species. Aquatic garter snakes prefer leeches, small fish and marine invertebrates whereas other wild garters feast on anything from aquatic invertebrates to young vertebrates. They really prefer not to move during the cold, many hibernating in large aggregations, whether it be under rocks or in dens. Most hope not to get preyed upon by anything from birds, mammals, or even the King snakes which love to chow down on these little guys.

Photo credit: Jennifer Schlick