Family: Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes view all from this family

Description 18-42 1/2" (45.7-108 cm). Brown, olive or tan, with bold checkered pattern of large squarish black blotches on sides. Uppermost blotches intrude into yellow back stripe. Light side stripe confined to 3rd scale row on neck; 2nd and 3rd rows farther back on body. Large paired black blotches at back of head separated from corners of mouth by light crescent; 8 upper lip scales. Scales keeled, in 21 rows. Anal plate single.

Subspecies Two; 1 in our range: Marcy's (T. m. marcianus).

Breeding 6-18 young, 8-9 1/4" (20.3-23.5 cm) long, are born June to August.

Habitat Arid and semiarid grassland near streams, springs, ponds, and irrigation sites; sea level to ca. 5,000' (1,500 m).

Range Extreme se. California, s. Arizona, e. and sw. New Mexico to e. Texas, north to sw. Kansas, south to Costa Rica.

Discussion Active during the day in the more northerly portions of its range. On warm summer nights it can be found foraging for frogs, fishes, and crayfish.