Thamnophis butleri

Carpenter, C. C., 1932, Comparative ecology of the common garter snake Thamnophis s. sirtalis), the ribhon snake (ThanrnopMs s. sauritus), and Butler s garter snake (Thamnophi butleri) in mixed popuiations, Ecol. Monogr. 22 233-238. 

I examined three closely related species, two of which (Thamnophis sirtalis and butleri) live in primarily grassy microhabitats (Carpenter, 1952) and one (. proxlmus) which occupies brushy areas in aquatic situations (Clark, 1974). In addition, I examined Regina septemvlttata, another thamno-phiine snake of somewhat confusing taxonomic status (Rossman, 1985) which occurs in habitats quite similar to those in which proximus is found (Branson and Baker, 1974). Differences in the evenness of the terrain of these species preferred habitats should have an effect on both deposition of a trail and the mechanism of orientation to the trail. 

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