California red-sided garter snake

The California red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) is a subspecies of the common garter snake. This slender species of natricine snake is indigenous to North America and is one of three recognized subspecies of Thamnophis sirtalis found in California. While commonly confused with Thamnophis sirtalis the subspecies Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis is biologically part of the population of T. s. tetrataenia,[1] as pointed out by Boundy and Rossman (1995),[2] but was preserved as T. s. infernalis as a neotype under ICZN code Article 75[3] in a 2000 decision by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) in 2000[4] in order to preserve the existing subspecies taxonomy.
Most California red-sided garter snakes have a pattern of blue stripes on a black and red background. Their average total length is about 55 cm (22 in), with a maximum total length of about 100 cm (39 in).[2]
Category:Animals
Category:Creatures