Giant garter snake: Difference between revisions
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'''''Thamnoptis gigas''''', or Giant Garter Snake (Fitch, 1940) is the largest of the [[garter snake]]s. |
'''''Thamnoptis gigas''''', or Giant Garter Snake (Fitch, 1940) is the largest of the [[garter snake]]s. |
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It is endemic to the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]] wetlands of [[California]]. Destruction of wetland habitat has been so widespread that this species is listed as threatened by the state and federal governments. |
It is endemic to the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]] wetlands of [[California]]. Destruction of wetland habitat has been so widespread that this species is listed as threatened by the state and federal governments. <ref>U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1999. Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake. Portland, Oregon.</ref> The giant garter snake populations of the [[San Joaquin Valley]] are now tiny disconnected remnants. <ref>U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1993. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the Giant Garter Snake. Portland, Oregon.</ref>. The giant garter snake has fared better in the [[Sacramento Valley]] because rice cultivation and the associated canals have provided habitat <ref>U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1999. Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake. Portland, Oregon.</ref>, when rice land is fallowed, populations seem to then move away from adjacent ditches <ref>5. Wylie, G.D., M.L. Casazza, and L.L. Martin. 2004. Monitoring giant garter snakes in the Natomas Basin: 2003 results. Progress report for The Natomas Basin Conservancy. USGS, BRD Dixon Field Station. 75pp. [Technical Report][http://www.werc.usgs.gov/dixon/pdfs/Official%20Report%20Natomas%202003.pdf]</ref>. In addition to habitat loss and fragmentation, introduced predators like the [[Bullfrog]] may also be suppressing recovery<ref>4. Wylie, G.D., M.L. Casazza, and M. Carpenter. 2003. Diet of bullfrogs in relation to predation on giant garter snakes at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. California Fish and Game 89(3): 139-145.</ref>. Attempts are underway to restore artificial wetlands to provide quality habitat for the giant garter snake, but it is too early to know if these efforts will significantly aid the recovery of this threatened species. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
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*1. Hansen, R. W. and G. E. Hansen. 1990. Thamnophis gigas (giant garter snake) reproduction. Herpetological Review. 21(4): 93-94. |
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*2. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1993. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the Giant Garter Snake. Portland, Oregon. |
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*3. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1999. Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake. Portland, Oregon. |
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*4. Wylie, G.D., M.L. Casazza, and M. Carpenter. 2003. Diet of bullfrogs in relation to predation on giant garter snakes at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. California Fish and Game 89(3): 139-145. |
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*5. Wylie, G.D., M.L. Casazza, and L.L. Martin. 2004. Monitoring giant garter snakes in the Natomas Basin: 2003 results. Progress report for The Natomas Basin Conservancy. USGS, BRD Dixon Field Station. 75pp. [Technical Report] http://www.werc.usgs.gov/dixon/pdfs/Official%20Report%20Natomas%202003.pdf |
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[[Category:Colubrids]] |
[[Category:Colubrids]] |
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Revision as of 18:14, 12 June 2007
Thamnoptis gigas, or Giant Garter Snake (Fitch, 1940) is the largest of the garter snakes.
It is endemic to the Central Valley wetlands of California. Destruction of wetland habitat has been so widespread that this species is listed as threatened by the state and federal governments. [1] The giant garter snake populations of the San Joaquin Valley are now tiny disconnected remnants. [2]. The giant garter snake has fared better in the Sacramento Valley because rice cultivation and the associated canals have provided habitat [3], when rice land is fallowed, populations seem to then move away from adjacent ditches [4]. In addition to habitat loss and fragmentation, introduced predators like the Bullfrog may also be suppressing recovery[5]. Attempts are underway to restore artificial wetlands to provide quality habitat for the giant garter snake, but it is too early to know if these efforts will significantly aid the recovery of this threatened species.
References
- ^ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1999. Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake. Portland, Oregon.
- ^ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1993. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the Giant Garter Snake. Portland, Oregon.
- ^ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1999. Draft Recovery Plan for the Giant Garter Snake. Portland, Oregon.
- ^ 5. Wylie, G.D., M.L. Casazza, and L.L. Martin. 2004. Monitoring giant garter snakes in the Natomas Basin: 2003 results. Progress report for The Natomas Basin Conservancy. USGS, BRD Dixon Field Station. 75pp. [Technical Report][1]
- ^ 4. Wylie, G.D., M.L. Casazza, and M. Carpenter. 2003. Diet of bullfrogs in relation to predation on giant garter snakes at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. California Fish and Game 89(3): 139-145.