Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus

Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus, the redstripe ribbon snake, is a subspecies of the western ribbon snake, a garter snake endemic to the southern United States.

Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species:
Subspecies:
T. p. rubrilineatus
Trinomial name
Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus
Rossman, 1963

Geographic range

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It is found in West Texas on the Edwards Plateau.[1]

Description

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This species has a distinctive red stripe down the center of the back, to which both the common name and the subspecific name refer.

Habitat and behavior

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It is semiaquatic, spending most of its time on the edge of permanent bodies of water such as swamps, ponds, lakes, or slow-moving streams. It is fast-moving and an excellent swimmer.

Diet

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Its primary diet is amphibians, such as the northern cricket frog (Acris crepitans), but it will also consume lizards and small rodents.

References

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  1. ^ Conant, R. (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. xviii + 429 pp. (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus, p. 166, Plate 23, Map 120.)

Further reading

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  • Rossman, D.A. (1963). The Colubrid Snake Genus Thamnophis: A Revision of the sauritus Group. Bull. Florida State Mus. Biol. Sci. 7(3):99-178.