(Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis)
The eastern blackneck garter snake
is an inhabitant of rocky areas with ponds or streams. It is semi aquatic
and all of them I have found have been in or right near water. The
first one I found was a neonate at Sitting Bull Falls a long time ago (I was
young). Since then, I have found numerous ones, although most were in
the Gila National Forest in western NM. I have found one more in Eddy
county at night on the same road as I found the young blacktail rattlesnake.
It had been raining and was rather cool (67 F), but was found in a large
puddle in the middle of the road. A friend of mine also found one DEEP
inside a cave with no apparent light and shallow pools inside. In Eddy
county, it occurs mainly in the Guadalupe mountains, but also occurs nearby
where the terrain is hilly at best. Diet includes amphibians, fish,
and probably insects.
Range Map blackneck garter
Range
Expected Range
Range Map blackneck garter
Range
Expected Range