Black-necked Garter Snake
Thamnophis cyrtopsis
This garter snake was photographed by John Gunn at Spur Cross Ranch, Cave Creek, Arizona in Sept. 2008. The black marking just posterior to the head, are not clear in this view.
In the Sonoran Desert garter snakes rarely venture far from water and so are restricted in their distribution to areas near riparian habitats with open water. Their food consists especially of frogs, toads, tadpoles, and aquatic invertebrates. They are non-poisonous, but will bite if mishandled and can soil the attacker with foul-smelling excrement. Like all garter snakes, the Black-necked Garter Snake gives birth to live young in spring.