A gorgeous litter of Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis is born.

Last week, June 12th 2014 a little surpise awaited me whan I came home. My female Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (a light coloured female from Michigan, USA with beautifull red coloration on the lateral stripe) had just given birth to a litter of beautifull and healthy babies.

T.s.sirtalis, het.melanistic born June 12th 2014

T.s.sirtalis, het.melanistic born June 12th 2014

The father is melanistic T.s.sirtalis from Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada. So they are all het. melanistic! The coloration is unusually light for T.s.sirtalis, and the spots in the neck are unusually large in some specimens which make them look a bit like T.s.semifasciata. But they are 100 % T.s.sirtalis, no doubts about heritage here.

Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, the common garter snake. Nothing common about them, they are true beauties.