Preliminary morphometrics, growth, and natural history observations of the short-headed garter snake, Thamnophis brachystoma at two urban sites in Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA

摘要

We used mark-recapture techniques to study the short-headed garter snake, Thamnophis brachystoma at two urban sites (Shannon Road and McClelland Park) in Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA. Mean snout-vent length (SVL) and weight was greater in females than males regardless of age class; whereas relative to total length, tail length was consistently greater in males than in females. Sex ratios did not differ significantly from 1:1 regardless of age-class. At Shannon Road, adults significantly outnumbered juveniles 3.3 to 1. While at McClelland Park, juveniles (N = 63) were nearly twice as numerous as adults (N = 31). Data regarding estimated growth are also reported. The results of the present study conform to previously published data from populations in Pennsylvania and a population near Olean, New York.