CHECKERED GARTERSNAKE Thamnophis marcianus (Baird & Girard, 1853) 

STATUS:  Very rare

DOCUMENTED COUNTIES:  Collin, Tarrant, and Wise

HABITAT:  Blackland Prairie, Western Cross Timbers, Fort Worth Prairie, and Mesquite Grand Prairie

COMMENTS:  T. marcianus is very common west of the Metroplex.