Fun Aquatic Garter Snake Facts For Kids

The aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) is a small snake that likes to live in or near water. The snake aquatic garter range of habitat includes streams, lakes, and wet areas in forests. The aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) is generally harmless and non-aggressive. This snake has many interesting facts about it such as how they look like other snakes, how they hunt for food, and what their predators are. These garter snakes have been around for a long time and can be found all over the world. They eat slugs and snails which is helpful to those who have a constant battle with these pests in their yard. These reptiles are also known for their defense mechanism of releasing an unpleasant smell when threatened, so it is best not to mess with them. They have an impressive sense of smell which helps them to find prey underwater. These snakes are not venomous so they don't harm humans or pets, making them relatively harmless to encounter.

The blue garter snake is one of the most common species of snake found in Canada, especially in British Columbia. With their large range and population, they are not considered endangered or threatened. They are small snakes that like to live adjacent to water sources such as lakes, streams, springs, and wetlands. Garter snakes can be identified by their slender bodies which have a range of colors like dark green with a yellow stripe, called bands, running down their length from head to tail end. It has two rows of belly scales. A large population of garters snakes live in California as it is easy for them to find food sources that are a part of their diet.  

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What type of animal is an aquatic garter snake?

The snake aquatic garter is a type of snake that was first found in Oregon.

What class of animal does an aquatic garter snake belong to?

The aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) is a reptile that belongs to the class Reptilia. These animals are usually black with a white stripe along their body but there are cases when they have yellow or green scales as well which makes their body quite unique from other snakes.

How many aquatic garter snakes are there in the world?

There's not much known about this snake because it lives so deep underwater that most humans could only dream of venturing there. As far as we know there are plenty of them as their IUCN conservation status is Least Concern.

Where does an aquatic garter snake live?

Common garter snakes are found in swampy areas or near water because they need to live close to freshwater.

What is an aquatic garter snake's habitat?

Gray garter snakes are the most common type of snake found in North America. The aquatic garter snake habitat includes freshwater sources because they need them to find their food including fish, amphibians like tadpoles, and other aquatic invertebrates. These young reptiles can range anywhere from central Texas through to Louisiana all the way up to Kentucky.

Who do aquatic garter snakes live with?

These garter snakes live in the water, so it is not surprising that they're solitary. What is shocking though is how much time these guys spend underwater. These creatures can stay submerged for up to four hours at a time and never need to surface for air.

How long does an aquatic garter snake live?

The life span of this snake varies greatly depending on its habitat. These snakes are usually between five to 15 years old when they die for unknown reasons that scientists have yet to find out about these young reptiles.

How do they reproduce?

A garter snake's eggs are laid with a male partner. Mating for a young garter reptile is a particularly tricky endeavor. Garter snake females have a slender body and nurture the developing young until they hatch before releasing them to live on their own. There is a range of methods with which these species reproduce and nurture offspring in order for future generations to survive.

What is their conservation status?

The IUCN conservation status of garter snakes is Least Concern.

What do aquatic garter snakes look like?

Garter snakes are typically brown in color with dark blotches that sometimes appear black or blue. The common garter snake has an elongated lower jaw which is used primarily as a sensory organ to detect vibrations from potential food sources on the land underneath them so that it doesn't get caught in undergrowth during its hunt for prey.

How cute are they?

Garter snakes are small species of snake that can be found in the water, but they look like cute little critters instead.

How do they communicate?

Garter snakes are a social bunch. They communicate with each other by rubbing their noses together to send messages. Some scientists believe this is how they share food locations and warn one another of potential danger in the water.

How big is an aquatic garter snake?

Garter snakes are fascinating creatures that can reach lengths of 20-55 in (50-140 cm). They have a dark-colored stripe running along their back and sides in shades ranging from brown to olive green, with lighter coloring on the underside.

How fast can an aquatic garter snake move?

Garter snakes can swim at the speed of 15 mph (20-25 kph).

How much does an aquatic garter snake weigh?

Garter snakes are one of the smaller species in North America, weighing only about 0.3-0.4 lb (135-150 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Female and male snakes of this species are both commonly known as garter snakes since this gray snake species has no gender-specific scientific names.

What would you call a baby aquatic garter snake?

The little ones of these common garter snakes are referred to as hatchlings. Common garter snake babies have a multitude of vibrant colors that will definitely attract anyone who happens upon this little creature in its habitat.

What do they eat?

The gray aquatic garter snake food includes fish, amphibians like frogs, lizards, and other creatures like newts or minnows. However, they themselves often fall prey to predators like hawks and otters.

Are they poisonous?

No, they are not poisonous unlike most other snakes like the King cobra.

Would they make a good pet?

The colorful common garter snake is a popular pet because it is not poisonous. They also have beautiful markings and are relatively easy to care for, making them an excellent choice in the watery world of pets.

Did you know...

The aquatic garter snake bite can be painful, but it is not dangerous. Common garter snakes rarely pose a threat to humans and generally do not contain any venom that poses an issue for humans. This is because the snake's mouth does not have much muscle in it so biting down on food or prey isn't something it's used to doing. However, just like all other animals, including us, they will defend themselves if threatened.

Are aquatic garter snakes poisonous?

No, they are not poisonous and absolutely safe to be around. They are a variety of common garter snakes that live in bodies of water because they spend more time underwater than on land, but when it's cold out you can find them basking near logs or other things for warmth.

What is the biggest garter snake?

The giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) is the largest and heaviest aquatic species of this type in North America. The average weight for a male ranges from 18-25 lb (8-11 kg), while a female giant garter snake has a range between 15-23 lb (6-9 kg) on average.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover!  Learn more about some other reptiles from our Burmese python facts and corn snake facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable aquatic garter snake coloring pages.