FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) is a species of the Colubridae family and is the largest species of garter snake in North America. These garter snakes have brown, olive, or black scales with dorsal stripe and patterns. These snake species can grow up to 64 in (25 cm) long. These snakes are semi-aquatic and scarce. They are active in water bodies when the temperature is high. The reproductive strategies of male and female giant garter snakes are different. The venom of these snakes does not pose a threat to humans. The giant garter snake range is small and is endemic to the Central Valley in California. Over the years, these snakes have evolved to have a fast-diving behavior to escape predators. When they feel threatened, they release a musk-foul smell. These snakes are the prey of California kingsnakes and American bullfrogs. As they mostly eat fish with high mercury levels, their bloodstreams have a high level of heavy metal components.
You may also enjoy reading our smooth green snake and water snake facts.
The Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) is a type of snake that is active during spring in the day, but hibernates or retreats in winter in terrestrial surroundings. They are semi-aquatic species.
The Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) is of the Reptilia class of animals.
The exact number of the giant garter snake is unknown.
This species of garter snake is endemic to the Central Valley of California. The range of their habitat is from San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento in central California to some fragmented parts in Sacramento valley.
The historical habitat range of these species is from wetlands like tule mushes to slow-moving waters. They are mostly found near the water surface and only sometimes have been found few meters deep in the water. They do not disperse to new habitats, as they are semiaquatic. It is one of the reasons that the populations of these are fragmenting. So, they might occupy the same habitat even if the area is destroyed. They are found in the rice agricultural artificial wetlands. During the active season, they are highly aquatic. As they require thermoregulation water, they do not prefer fast-moving cold water bodies. They are highly active underwater that is more than 68°F (20° C).
The habitat of these snakes has emergent vegetation, which protects them from predation. These endangered species spend the most time on land underground during active seasons and brumation. They are active during the day in spring till fall. They hibernate in winter in small mammal burrows. They live underground when the water temperature is low. They occupy vegetation or litter when they are not underground. They live in the canals in agricultural rice fields where they receive abundant water, food, and cover. As these agricultural lands are mostly private properties, conservation and studies on this endangered species are hard. They can also be found in State Wildlife areas and Federal National Wildlife Refugees.
The giant garter snakes live on their own.
The lifespan of these threatened species is 15-20 years.
The giant garter snakes carry eggs internally, giving birth to live snakes (ovoviviparous). The male snake species emerge from hibernation in March to mid-May and search for a female. The young ones are born from July to October. The reproductive strategies of males and females are different. It was observed that in early spring, the males expend more energy than females in searching for a mate, feeding, and forgoing. So, they have decreased body conditions. On the other hand, females have improved body conditions for embryo development. Another observation was that the gravid females bask more often in the sun than males and non-gravid females. The female gestation period is two to three months. The basking aids the embryo's growth. During mating, the male and female entwine themselves. The females produce 3-80 young ones. The number depends on the size of the female snakes.
The conservation status of a giant garter snake is Vulnerable. They are threatened due to the destruction of habitat and wetlands, as per the U.S Fish and Wildlife service. People are making recovery plans to provide the habitat and recover the numbers.
The giant garter snakes of the genus Thamnophis and family Colubridae are the largest. The scales of these snakes are keeled. The body is black, brown, olive, or dark gray-colored. They have a yellow dorsal stripe and two yellow stripes running along the body. They also have some checkered patterns like spots. They can grow up to five feet. They have olive, cream, or brown-colored undersides. The population in the north has orange infused with the colors.
Many people think these snakes are not cute.
These snakes communicate by shaking their tail in a particular manner. They also use their tongue and vibrations to sense any prey in the surroundings.
The giant garter snake size range is 37-65 in (94-165 cm ) long.
The data on their speed is not available.
The garter snake's weight range is between 1-1.5 lb (0.4-0.6 kg). The females are bigger than the male snakes.
There are no specific names given to these male and female snake species.
There is no specific name given to the baby giant garter snakes. They are usually referred to as young ones or juveniles.
These endangered species feed on frogs, tadpoles, and fish. They used to prey on the Sierran treefrog and the adult feed on the young American bullfrog. In captivity, they can eat frozen fish, earthworms, frogs, and rodents.
These endangered species are venomous. The venom is used on their prey and is harmless to humans. The venom, if injected into a human would only cause a swollen area around the wound. Some humans might have an allergic reaction to the venom, which can cause anaphylactic shock.
Yes. They would make a great pet. They are one of the many pet snakes. They can get used to handling once they get familiar with it.
These garter snake species are twice the average size of other garter snakes.
The garter snakes reach maturity slower than several other snake species. The age they reach maturity is between three and five years. Other small snakes reach maturity faster which is within two years.
These species got their name due to the stripes on their body, which resembles the garter that was worn by people to hold up their socks.
The population of these snakes in the San Joaquin valley is lower, and the snakes are scattered, and 98% of the population has been wiped out. These snakes are listed as threatened due to the loss of their habitat and the wetlands, as per the U.S Fish and Wildlife service. On the other hand, the agricultural rice fields in Sacramento valley have provided these species a habitat. So, these snakes would leave the ditches to occupy rice fields. The adult American bullfrogs feed on young ones, which is causing hindrance in the giant garter snake recovery plan. They are also prone to diseases like parasite contraction when the adult snake species feed on the young bullfrog. As they consume several small fish with high mercury levels, further research is needed to determine the effects of any fish on these snake species.
The biggest garter snakes are the threatened giant garter snakes. They grow to their maximum length in just the first two years of their lifespan.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles including the Burmese python, or corn snake.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Giant garter snake coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.