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stuart Member Joined: 26 May 2005 No. of posts: 12  View other posts by stuart |
Posted: 29 Dec 2008 any clues as to what this is? found on Cannock Chase spring 2007  |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 30 Dec 2008 Where is the snake now? Was it rehomed? my first thought was a garter snake of some sort??
J Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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wolves121 Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 27  View other posts by wolves121 |
Posted: 31 Dec 2008 i would say one of the American water snakes seen 328 british sp of birds an 6 sp of brtish reptiles |
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AGILIS Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 694  View other posts by AGILIS |
Posted: 01 Jan 2009 as a guess I would say a garter snake but no expert only on what ive handled that have been a little more slender looking as this one looks a little chunky keith
LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID |
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Alex2 Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 266 View other posts by Alex2 |
Posted: 02 Jan 2009 That to me looks like a rather elderly Thamnophis sirtalis, specifically the subspecies fitchi. The young and sub-adults of that subspecies are particularly well marked but they do fade with age, i suspect that snake could well of been living in the English countryside well in excess of 10 years, as i do not believe that fitchi have been imported into the UK since the '90's (although other garters/thamnophis still are).
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 03 Jan 2009 I hear the Indiana Jones Theme tune - remember the snake scene in Raiders......
J Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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wolves121 Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 No. of posts: 27 View other posts by wolves121 |
Posted: 03 Jan 2009 ive asked on another forum and they come up with Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster yellow bellied (or plain bellied) water snake seen 328 british sp of birds an 6 sp of brtish reptiles |
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Alex2 Senior Member Joined: 16 Dec 2006 No. of posts: 266 View other posts by Alex2 |
Posted: 03 Jan 2009 [QUOTE=wolves121]ive asked on another forum and they come up with Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster yellow bellied (or plain bellied) water snake[/QUOTE] If you look closer at that snake you'll see some faded red markings on it, and the way this specimen is marked is not in keeping with Nerodia ertyhrogaster. Also, check the lack of dark markings on the upper labials, the Nerodia has these very clearly. Trust me, if you've ever seen an old garter they really aren't a patch on juveniles or younger specimens. |
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stuart Member Joined: 26 May 2005 No. of posts: 12 View other posts by stuart |
Posted: 05 Jan 2009 Hi, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to post replies. When I first recovered the snake, I thought it might be a garter of some description,however it appeared too stocky compared to all the examples I had seen,and it appeared too dull. However Alex2 s suggestion would appear to be the most likely-it did have faded red scales on its side and it did have a bright red and black tongue. It was found in late March amongst an adder colony just out of hibernation. Thanks again |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 06 Jan 2009 Hi Stuart Do report further on this find as it seems to be an important observation if it was within a group of adders. Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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stephengraham Member Joined: 10 Jul 2009 No. of posts: 3 View other posts by stephengraham |
Posted: 10 Jul 2009 Hi wolves121... I also agree with you because i have seen same snake in discovery channel but confident about it... zinc |
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-LAF Senior Member Joined: 03 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 317 View other posts by -LAF |
Posted: 10 Jul 2009 Okay, this has got me scratching my head. Don't suppose you have a bigger image do you? The faint dorsal line and slight red marking on the sides suggest Thamnophis. However, there *appears* to be a row of sub-occulars seperating the eye and the upper labials, which could indicate some Nerodia (although not N. erythrogaster!) instead. My best guess is with Thamnophis, but far from 100% More convinced it's not Nerodia, though. Lee Fairclough |
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