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RAUK - Archived Forum - please help, what is this snake?

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please help, what is this snake?:

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anna
Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
No. of posts: 3


View other posts by anna
Posted: 09 Jul 2003

We found a dead snake in our garden, it looks similar to an adder, about 35cm long and similar colourings but its markings are not joined the same as an adder. I have a digital photo but don't know how to attach it. Am a bit worried as we have a young baby.

Would be very grateful for any help on this.


anna
anna
Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
No. of posts: 3


View other posts by anna
Posted: 09 Jul 2003

Just checked the snake and it is actually about 50cm long. Also it had recently eaten a mouse.


anna
GemmaJF
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Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 09 Jul 2003

Anna,

Send me the photograph as an email attachment to mailto:gemmajfairchild@aol.com I will mount it in this thread for you.


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
GemmaJF
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Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 10 Jul 2003

Anna's Picture,

 

Anna, I can confirm this is not an Adder Vipera berus, or a venomous snake, it appears to be a Leopard Snake Elaphe situla, not a native UK species, but native to the Balkans, Crimea, southern Italy, Sicily and Malta. If found in the UK it is likely to have been an escaped pet. 

I would appreciate verification of the ID by other forum members.


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
Matt Harris
Senior Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
No. of posts: 196


View other posts by Matt Harris
Posted: 10 Jul 2003
Any reason why you wouldn't say it's a corn snake?
Gwent Amphibian and Reptile Group (GARG)
-LAF
Senior Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 317


View other posts by -LAF
Posted: 10 Jul 2003
It's corn snake, Elaphe (for the time being) guttata, it's easily identifiable by the tell tale chequered pattern on underside. It a harmless North America snake, commonly sold as pets. They eat rodent and birds. Must be an escapee.

Cheers, Lee.-LAF37812.5367476852
Lee Fairclough
Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 326


View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster
Posted: 10 Jul 2003
Yup, definitely a juvenile corn snake (now Pantherophis guttatus ) - a very common pet snake, obviously someone's CB juvie escaped. They are very god at that, as I know from personal experience...

Anyhow, Anna, your family is entirely safe.

Cheers,

WolfgangWolfgang Wuster37812.5456712963
Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor
http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/
GemmaJF
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Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 10 Jul 2003
No reason at all Matt, hence why I asked for verification , I have no real interest in species found outside of europe, but I'm glad the snake has been identified.
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
-LAF
Senior Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 317


View other posts by -LAF
Posted: 10 Jul 2003
Cheers Wolfgang, I knew that change was coming but didn't realise it already had! It seems surprising to find it dead at this time of the year though, they normally do okay in our climate during the summer. I had a 6mth old juvenile escape one May. In November I found it hibernating in a draw in a desk in our summerhouse, which was in orchards a good distance from the house. It's quite funny really, he'd ofen been a picky feeder and the female I had of the same age was noticeably bigger than him by the time he escaped. When I found him in November he had grown LOADS and was noticeably bigger than the female, who was being fed weekly! Although she was a little fatter.
I suppose something like a domestic cat could have killed this one.

Cheers, Lee.
Lee Fairclough
Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 326


View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster
Posted: 10 Jul 2003
Funny thing is, the one in the pic above looks like it died while swallowing something - notice the swollen throat. Of course, it could be caused by something after its death, but an autopsy might be revealing. I don't know whether Anna would be game to open it up... hint, hint   

Cheers,

Wolfgang
Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor
http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/
anna
Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
No. of posts: 3


View other posts by anna
Posted: 10 Jul 2003

Thanks for all your help. Glad to hear that its harmless.

I'm not keen on the autopsy but I'll send it to you if you like!

Anna

 


anna
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


View other posts by djp_phillips
Posted: 28 Jan 2006
where's the photo gone?
Reptiles & Amphibians of France:
www.herpfrance.com

European Field Herping Community:
www.euroherp.com
Dan Kane
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
No. of posts: 201


View other posts by Dan Kane
Posted: 29 Jan 2006
I can't see it either
Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
GemmaJF
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Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 29 Jan 2006

Hi guys,

This thread is now nearly two and half years old! The picture was hosted on a previous server, abandoned a long time ago.


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
Dan Kane
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
No. of posts: 201


View other posts by Dan Kane
Posted: 30 Jan 2006
Oh, thanks
Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


View other posts by djp_phillips
Posted: 30 Jan 2006
silly me, thanks
Reptiles & Amphibians of France:
www.herpfrance.com

European Field Herping Community:
www.euroherp.com
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


View other posts by djp_phillips
Posted: 30 Jan 2006
silly me, thanks. I sall look at the dates in futur...
Reptiles & Amphibians of France:
www.herpfrance.com

European Field Herping Community:
www.euroherp.com
Dan Kane
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
No. of posts: 201


View other posts by Dan Kane
Posted: 30 Jan 2006
Yeah, me too
Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


View other posts by djp_phillips
Posted: 30 Jan 2006
I now look at the active topics, it's really useful
Reptiles & Amphibians of France:
www.herpfrance.com

European Field Herping Community:
www.euroherp.com

- please help, what is this snake?

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