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partly melanistic smooth snake

Printed From: Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK
Category: Herpetofauna Native to the UK
Forum Name: Smooth Snake
Forum Description: Forum for all issues concerning Coronella austriaca
URL: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4352
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 4:38pm
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Topic: partly melanistic smooth snake
Posted By: will
Subject: partly melanistic smooth snake
Date 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:












Replies:
Posted By: GemmaJF
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 7:50am
Nice find Will, thanks for sharing.


Posted By: will
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2012 at 9:16am
Thanks GemmaSmile


Posted By: AGILIS
Date 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

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   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID


Posted By: will
Date 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









Posted By: AGILIS
Date 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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   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID


Posted By: will
Date 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!


Posted By: will
Date 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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