Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

San Francisco Garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The San Francisco garter snake ( Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) is a slender, colorful snake in the Colubridae family, which includes most of the species of snakes found in the western United States. This subspecies has a burnt orange head, greenish-yellow dorsal stripe edged in black, bordered by a red stripe, which may be continuous or broken with black blotches, and then a black stripe. The belly color varies from greenish-blue to blue. Large adults can reach 3 feet or more in length.

Lead Region:  California/Nevada Region (Region 8)
Date Listed: Mar 11, 1967

  • States/US Territories in which the San Francisco Garter snake is known to occur:  California

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
11/03/2005 70 FR 66842 66844 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.
07/07/2005 70 FR 39327 39329 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain
07/22/2004 69 FR 43862 43864 Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for an Amendment to the Incidental Take Permit for the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan, San Mateo County, CA
03/10/1983 48 FR 10136 10137 Conservation Plan for Incidental Take of End. Wildlife, Finding of No Significant Impact; 48 FR 10136-10137

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/11/1985 Recovery Plan for the San Francisco Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
02/14/2007 72 FR 7064 7084 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 58 Species in California and Nevada; Availability of Completed 5-Year Reviews in California and Nevada
  • Notice 5-year Review, Completion
    • 11/03/2005 70 FR 66842 66844 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain 5-Year Reviews.
  • Notice 5-year Review
  • Notice Comment Period Extension
    • 07/07/2005 70 FR 39327 39329 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle, Smith's Blue Butterfly, Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly, Morro Shoulderband Snail, Giant Garter Snake, San Francisco Garter Snake, Island Night Lizard, California Least Tern, Least Bell's Vireo, Chinese Camp Brodiaea, Mariposa Pussypaws, San Clemente Island Indian Paintbrush, Spring-Loving Centaury, Springville Clarkia, San Clemente Island Larkspur, Santa Barbara Island Dudleya, Ash Meadows Gumplant, San Clemente Island Woodland Star, San Clemente Island Lotus, San Clemente Island Bush Mallow, Amargosa Niterwort, Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Yreka Phlox, Hartweg's Golden Sunburst, San Joaquin Adobe Sunburst, Santa Cruz Island Rock-Cress, Keck's Checker-mallow, Eureka Dune Grass, Kneeland Prairie Pennycress, Hidden Lake Bluecurls, and Red Hills Vervain
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    09/26/2006 San Francisco Garter Snake 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the San Francisco Garter snake.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 5 )
    HCP Plan Summaries
    San Bruno Mountain
    San Bruno Mountain Amendment #1 (South Slope)
    San Bruno Mountain Amendment #2 (County Park)
    San Bruno Mountain Amendment #3 (Rio Verde)
    San Bruno Mountain Amendment #4 (NE Ridge/permit #74660)

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the San Francisco Garter snake.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009