Key Identification Features
- The night snake has a relatively flat, triangular head, and usually has a pair of dark brown blotches on its neck.
- This species has distinct dark markings: dark rings around the eyes, a vertical dark slash just behind the jaw, and a thick diagonal dark slash on both sides of the neck.
- Many of these features are shared with most other garter snake species, so they do not help distinguish this species reliably.
- The unique identifying feature of Butler's garter snake is the placement of its lateral (side) stripes.
For instant identification in the field, use the iNature app — AI-powered, works offline.
