San Francisco garter snake

San Francisco garter snake
Conservation status
Endangered (ESA)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Thamnophis
Species:	T. sirtalis
Subspecies:	T. s. tetrataenia
Trinomial name
Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia (Cope, 1875)
Synonyms
Eutaenia sirtalis tetratænia Cope, 1875

The San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) is a slender multi-colored subspecies of the common garter snake. Designated as an endangered subspecies since the year 1967,^[1] it is endemic to San Mateo County and the extreme northern part of coastal Santa Cruz County in California.

Some researchers estimate that there are only 1,000 to 2,000 adult snakes of the subspecies T. s. tetrataenia remaining. However, the full extent of the snakes' habitat has not been fully documented, and many snakes may utilize creeks and other waterways that are currently unexplored. This garter snake prefers wet and marshy areas, and because of its elusive nature, it is difficult to see or capture.