# Aquatic Garter Snake (*Thamnophis atratus*) The Aquatic Garter Snake is a friendly snake that loves to swim and hunt for fish. It has beautiful stripes and can often be found near water, making it a special sight to see! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Aquatic Garter Snake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aquatic_Garter_Snake_-_Sarah_Stierch_A.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sarah Stierch, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aquatic_Garter_Snake_-_Sarah_Stierch_A.jpg) ## Appearance The Aquatic Garter Snake is typically dark olive to black with a dull yellow or orange stripe often running down its back. It sometimes has fainter side stripes. Its plain dark belly helps distinguish it and provides camouflage in murky water. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Thamnophis ## Interesting facts - Its tongue flicking not only tastes the air but also smells underwater to find hidden prey! - These snakes give birth to live babies, swimming immediately after they are born! - They can eat poisonous newts and salamanders that would make other animals very sick! - When scared, they might release a smelly, musky liquid to make predators think twice about eating them! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Hunter:** Aquatic Garter Snake can hunt fish underwater because it has great vision and can hold its breath for several minutes. - **Toxic Meal Master:** Aquatic Garter Snake has unique physiological resistance that lets it safely eat poisonous newts and salamanders. - **Slippery Swimmer:** Aquatic Garter Snake has a sleek body and keeled scales that help it glide effortlessly and quickly through water. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 46-100 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 1.5 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 3 m ## Diet & Feeding An agile hunter, it eats small fish, amphibians, and invertebrates found in its watery home. - **Primary Foods:** Fish, Frogs, Tadpoles, Salamanders, Newts, Leeches - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) — often hunts small fish like trout in its streams and ponds. - **Eats:** [California Newt](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-newt) (*Taricha torosa*) — consumes newts, including their toxic skin, showing unique immunity. - **Eaten by:** [Green Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-heron) (*Butorides virescens*) — hunted by various wading birds and raptors near water sources. - **Eats:** [Northern Red-legged Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-legged-frog) (*Rana aurora*) — preys on various frogs and their tadpoles found in aquatic habitats. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a snake, it's best to watch from a distance and not touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Aquatic Garter Snake? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Aquatic Garter Snake? 46-100 cm ### How much does Aquatic Garter Snake weigh? 0.05-0.2 kg ### How long does Aquatic Garter Snake live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Aquatic Garter Snake move? 8 km/h ### What does Aquatic Garter Snake eat? An agile hunter, it eats small fish, amphibians, and invertebrates found in its watery home. ### How fast can Aquatic Garter Snake swim? 1.5 km/h ### Where is Aquatic Garter Snake usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Sonoma Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sonoma-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Old Borges Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-borges-ranch) — California, US · Historic Site - [Meadows Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/meadows-park) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Aquatic Garter Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/aquatic-garter-snake) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Aquatic Garter Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aquatic-garter-snake)