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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 |
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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 |
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GemmaJF Admin Group 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 |
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GemmaJF Admin Group 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 |
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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) |
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-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. Lee Fairclough |
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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, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 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 |
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-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 |
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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/ |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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? |
