{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "garter-snake",
  "name": "Garter Snake",
  "scientificName": "Thamnophis sirtalis",
  "category": "Reptile",
  "summary": "The garter snake is one of the most common and widespread snakes in North America, found in meadows, marshes, woodlands, and gardens from Canada to Mexico. It is a slender snake, typically 0.5 to 1.3 m long and about 150 g, usually striped in yellow or green along a darker body. Harmless to people, it slithers actively by day hunting worms, amphibians, and fish, and lives around four to ten years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Reptilia",
    "order": "Squamata",
    "family": "Colubridae",
    "genus": "Thamnophis"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.15,
    "lengthM": 0.7,
    "topSpeedKmh": 5,
    "lifespanYears": 8
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Thamnophis sirtalis"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Meadows, marshes, woodlands, and gardens"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "4–10 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "0.5–1.3 m (1.5–4.3 ft)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "About 150 g (5 oz)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Meadows, marshes, and gardens across North America, one of the most widespread snakes on the continent.",
    "continents": [
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Thamnophis sirtalis.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Thamnophis%20sirtalis&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Thamnophis sirtalis. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Thamnophis_sirtalis/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Garter Snake.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_garter_snake"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/garter-snake/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/garter-snake/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}