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partly melanistic smooth snake |
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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Posted: 25 Aug 2012 at 5:57pm |
Just found this male smooth snake in Purbeck while collecting data. Not seen one like this before; almost black towards the tail end, but nearer normal nearer the head. I think a couple of fully melanstic smooth snakes were found within a few miles of this site a couple of years ago.
Cheers Will with a more normal male for comparison: |
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Nice find Will, thanks for sharing.
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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Thanks Gemma
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AGILIS
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1689 |
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Good spotting Will I am trying my best for a late in season week at Wareham but this weekend being a holiday detered me hooking up the caravan I have usually had a few trips to Purbeck etc under the belt by now, I have never been so late in the field.I will have to take a print off of your smoothies to remind me what they look like if I see one keith
Edited by AGILIS - 27 Aug 2012 at 10:49am |
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LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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Hi Keith
good luck - should be some around trying to get some sun before it's too late! here's a couple of pics of a gravid animal found basking right next to a tin to whet your appetite Cheers Will |
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AGILIS
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1689 |
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Cheers Will I find smoothies tend to allow you to photo them with out taking off so quick as our other lot,have you found this hence the curling position ?keith
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LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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you're right Keith; she knew the game was up and just hunkered down while I took some photos. Completely exposed to all predators, especially aerial ones like buzzards etc, silly girl!
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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found another partly melanistic one today, a year on from the last one - this time a juvenile about 3 miles from the previous record, still on Purbeck. Similar markings, with more oatmeal at the front and more black at the back end:
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