Unusual Garter Snake Morph

I found this guy and wanted some opinions. There are three possible candidates either Western garter, Northwestern Garter or Common Garter. I think it's a common because of the normal ones I find usually. However as you can see it's a beautiful mutation. It's hard to see in the pics but the head is actually blue-ish. I'd call it amelanistic. What do you guys think.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ibb.co/Fm6xJbQ

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ibb.co/hBZkrL3

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ibb.co/qjCP0Hq

https://ibb.co/qjCP0Hq
https://ibb.co/hBZkrL3
https://ibb.co/Fm6xJbQ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ebcjoel

I found this guy and wanted some opinions. There are three possible candidates either Western garter, Northwestern Garter or Common Garter. I think it's a common because of the normal ones I find usually. However as you can see it's a beautiful mutation. It's hard to see in the pics but the head is actually blue-ish. I'd call it amelanistic. What do you guys think.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ibb.co/Fm6xJbQ

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ibb.co/hBZkrL3

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ibb.co/qjCP0Hq

https://ibb.co/qjCP0Hq
https://ibb.co/hBZkrL3
https://ibb.co/Fm6xJbQ

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That’s pretty cool. Where did you find him? That could help with identifying the species.


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Cant see the photos?

I found him in Easter Washington. So there are a few suspects.
Interestingly there's a small colony in my backyard that live in a rock pile. I suppose some in there might be het for whatever this is.

Yeah I can't make the imbed feature work. Maybe it's that hosting service or something?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ebcjoel

I found him in Easter Washington. So there are a few suspects.
Interestingly there's a small colony in my backyard that live in a rock pile. I suppose some in there might be het for whatever this is.

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Not sure. I don't think northwestern garters (T. ordinoides) are present in eastern Washington. My guess would be T. elegans or T. sirtalis. Do you mind if I share your pictures in a different group for opinions?

Asked a few folks and consensus is Wandering Garter (T. elegans vagrans)


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Regardless, thats a pretty gorgeous specimen!!! A great discovery indeed.

The smallish head and slightly smaller eyes point to the Northwestern Garter snake.

I observed many when I was in the northwest and they can be very variable in color (even grey with white stripe) but I have never seen one so light.

Thanks for sharing that neat find.