Garter snake

== Taxonomy ==

== Taxonomy ==

The first garter snake to be scientifically described was the [[eastern garter snake]] (now ''Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis''), by zoologist and taxonomist [[Carl Linnaeus]] in 1758. The genus ''Thamnophis'' was described by [[Leopold Fitzinger]] in 1843 as the genus for the garter snakes and ribbon snakes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=174133#null|title=ITIS Standard Report Page: Thamnophis|website=www.itis.gov|access-date=2019-07-06}}</ref> Many snakes previously identified as their own genera or species have been reclassified as species or subspecies in ''Thamnophis''. The [[Reptile Database]] currently recognised 37 species in the genus, some with several subspecies.<ref>{{cite taxon|reptileDB|title=Species in genus ''Thamnophis'' |url=https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?genus=Thamnophis&exact%5B0%5D=genus&submit=Search |access-date=1 July 2024}}</ref>

The first garter snake to be scientifically described was the [[eastern garter snake]] (now ''Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis''), by zoologist and taxonomist [[Carl Linnaeus]] in 1758. The genus ''Thamnophis'' was described by [[Leopold Fitzinger]] in 1843 as the genus for the garter snakes and ribbon snakes.<ref>{{Cite smd web|url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=174133#null|title=ITIS Standard Report Page: Thamnophis|website=www.itis.gov|access-date=2019-07-06}}</ref> Many snakes previously identified as their own genera or species have been reclassified as species or subspecies in ''Thamnophis''. The [[Reptile Database]] currently recognised 37 species in the genus, some with several subspecies.<ref>{{cite taxon|reptileDB|title=Species in genus ''Thamnophis'' |url=https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?genus=Thamnophis&exact%5B0%5D=genus&submit=Search |access-date=1 July 2024}}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat ==

== Distribution and habitat ==