This harmless snake is semi-aquatic and most of the 10 recognized subspecies are restricted to lake basins in Mexico.

This snake ranges in habitat from deserts and sky island forests of Arizona and New Mexico to thornscrub and rainforests of Mexico.

One subspecies, the Lake Chapala garter snake (T. e. obscurus), is Endemic to Lake Chapala.

This snake is a generalist carnivore, feeding on a wide variety of prey, such as lizards, frogs, toads, tadpoles, fish, and even from time to time earthworms, snails, insects, and small mammals.

This article relating to Natricinae is a stub.