Plains Garter Snake
Thamnophis radix

Northwestern Oklahoma and throughout the panhandle. The plains garter snake is a rather plain garter snake with two rows of squared spots on either side of the yellow dorsal stripe. Although many species of garters look very similar, the squared spots between the dorsal and lateral stripes (on scale rows 3 and 4) are a characteristic shared by only one other species of garter, the checkered garter snake, Thamnophis marcianus, which is shares much of the same range except Cimarron County, but has the lateral light line on scale rows 2 and 3.

Diet ranges from earthworms, crayfish, and insects, to tadpoles, frogs, and fish. Large specimens may take young rodents or birds as the opportunity arises.