Giant Garter Snake vs. Common Garter Snake

The owner's pair: both live in the Central Valley, where their records overlap. A: 21 or 23 (19 or 17 before the vent); 21 or more rules out the Common Garter in the Giant Garter Snake; 19 (17 before the vent) in the Common Garter Snake. B: On scale rows 3 and 4 above the belly in the Giant Garter Snake; lower, on scale rows 2 and 3 in the Common Garter Snake. C: Narrow, long and pointed; the snout long and narrow, for catching fish (no open close-up) in the Giant Garter Snake; broad and rounded, wider than long; a shorter, rounded snout (no open close-up) in the Common Garter Snake. Threatened: do not handle the Giant Garter Snake.

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