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partly melanistic smooth snake

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will View Drop Down
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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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GemmaJF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 7:50am
Nice find Will, thanks for sharing.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 9:16am
Thanks GemmaSmile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AGILIS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 10:46am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 12:42pm
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AGILIS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 7:17am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 9:28am
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote will Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2013 at 7:18pm
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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