the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles
Home Page Live Forums Archived Forums Site Search Identify Record Donate Projects Links
Forum Home Forum Home > General > What is it?
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Snake Skin Identification
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Snake Skin Identification

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
alkynance View Drop Down
New Member
New Member


Joined: 05 Oct 2016
Location: London
Status: Offline
Points: 3
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote alkynance Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Snake Skin Identification
    Posted: 05 Oct 2016 at 12:46pm
We found this snake skin under the compost bin lid which had been left on the ground. This is in a wild cottage garden near the Quantocks in Somerset. We want to know if it's a grass snake or an adder. Thanks
Back to Top
Iowarth View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 12 Apr 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 743
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Iowarth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 2016 at 5:35pm
Hi there

To my ageing eye, markings retained on the skin are hardly noticeable. This tend to rule out an adder and in any event the compost location would strongly suggest grass snake.

Chris
Chris Davis, Site Administrator

Co-ordinator, Sand Lizard Captive Breeding Programme (RETIRED)
Back to Top
PondDragon View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 15 Jul 2013
Status: Offline
Points: 55
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote PondDragon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Oct 2016 at 10:06pm
Look out for a cluster of empty egg shells when you turn/use the compost. They're fairly obvious as they stick together in a group of about 20 or so. Female grass snakes lay their eggs in the heap around June. The eggs hatch out August/September so good to avoid turning the heap during that time.

The female grass snakes shed before laying so you can sometimes find the skin on the heap then, although this one looks quite fresh so must be more recent. The hatchlings also shed soon after laying so you can potentially find their skins as evidence of successful breeding - about 7" long.


Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.06
Copyright ©2001-2016 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 3.000 seconds.