About Thamnophis melanogaster (Peters, 1864)
Blackbelly garter snakes, with the scientific name Thamnophis melanogaster (Peters, 1864), can have dorsal coloration in brown, olive green, gray, red, orange, or pink. Their ventral coloration includes all of these dorsal shades, plus yellow. Dorsal patterns may feature stripes, and there is usually a black stripe running along the center of the belly – this feature gives the species both its common name and its scientific name. Adult male and female Blackbelly garter snakes show little to no difference in overall size. This snake species is native to the Central Mexican Plateau, where it occurs at elevations ranging from 1,158 meters to 2,545 meters above sea level. It is a terrestrial species that lives in temperate habitats. While it is fully land-dwelling, it has never been recorded more than 15 meters away from a body of water. Blackbelly garter snakes reproduce via ovoviviparity.
