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Glite Dictionary
Thamnophis sauritus

Thamnophis sauritus

9.9
A thin North American snake with yellow stripes on its sides that lives near water
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Thamnophis sauritus
  • The Thamnophis sauritus, or ribbon snake, is easily recognized by its slender body and striking yellow stripes.

Examples

  • The Thamnophis sauritus is often seen swimming in marshes and ponds.

  • Unlike some other garter snakes, Thamnophis sauritus prefers wetter habitats.

  • Herpetologists observe Thamnophis sauritus to study its unique yellow stripes.

  • I saw a Thamnophis sauritus swimming in the lake.

  • The Thamnophis sauritus is often mistaken for other snakes.

  • Many nature enthusiasts seek to spot the Thamnophis sauritus basking near the edges of ponds.

  • When fishing, I often see a Thamnophis sauritus slither gracefully through the water.

Synonyms

garter snake
vsThamnophis sauritus
  • US
4 3.8

A common North and Central American snake that is not venomous and has long stripes

refers specifically to one slender yellow-striped species not the whole group
ribbon snake
vsThamnophis sauritus
  • US
6.5

A thin North American snake with a yellow stripe often near water

is the scientific name for that same species

Surface Forms

Thamnophis sauritus singular
Thamnophis sauritus plural

Morphology

Thamnophis + sauritus

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name: such names function as lexical labels rather than compositional English phrases. Although the provided definition of 'Thamnophis' signals a snake genus, the species epithet 'sauritus' is not an ordinary English word (dictionary not found) and does not transparently yield the common name 'ribbon snake', so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would not reliably infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Thamnophis sauritus gets its common name 'ribbon snake' because its long, thin body has a bright yellow stripe that looks like a ribbon as it moves. That's why the name helps you picture a slender, yellow-striped snake often seen near water.