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Definition of checkquered garter snake
checkquered garter snake
(UK: chequered garter snake)
Plural:checkquered garter snakes
• noun
1
North American A species of moderately sized, non-venomous snake (Thamnophis marcianus) native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America, characterized by a distinctive checkerboard pattern of dark spots on its back and a yellowish stripe down its spine.
Example
"While exploring the arid scrubland near a Texas stream, the herpetologist documented a healthy checkquered garter snake basking on a limestone rock."
Word Nuance & Usage
This spelling ('checkquered') is a highly unusual hybrid of the standard American 'checkered' and the British 'chequered'. The standard common name for this species is the 'checkered garter snake'.
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Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Checkquered garter snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/checkquered%20garter%20snake