Unfortunatrix

[Bushwhacker]

Saw this unfortunate grass snake lying in the lane at the weekend. I got my mate to stop his truck so I could take a pic so didn't have long.
Now, top left of the second pic is what I'm fairly sure is an egg. Having not seen one before I can only go by the description and it ticked all the boxes, including the texture.
So my question is, what was it doing there? Would it have been taken/moved by the snake holding it in its mouth?

Pictures taken 'as found'

 

[Joel_m]

Perhaps it was in the snake awaiting laying when to poor creature got killed as there is a tear in the body. Seems late in the year for eggs though.. I'm sure someone on here will have a better idea.

 

[hobbes]

Wow, good mystery!

 

[Bushwhacker]

I don't know too much about these creatures, but I did also think it would be late in the year for laying. I can't imagine it would've 'popped' out of the body and ended up in that position either.

 

[Bushwhacker]

C'mon JD this is one for you.

 

[Adze]

Egg bound snake perhaps - if there were more eggs they may have been removed/scattered by birds

 

[JonathanD]

Cheers Mr Harvestman for pointing this thread out to me.

Certainly way too late for egg laying in what we'd consider a 'normal' year. This takes place in April. But that being said, if there is a prolonged period of cool weather (as there certainly has been), plus the fact that the rain has reduced basking periods to virtually nil, then there is a high possibility of a delay in ovulation and ovipostition of eggs that allows a secondary clutch to be formed, and this has, in the past been recorded as late as September/October. I'd say that this may be the case here. Although if the photographer wasn't so tardy, he would have taken a pic of the tail so I could have made a positive ID on the sex I reckon it is a good possibility that this was a delayed clutch though. Shame.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Cheers Jon.
Yes, the weather has been awful here in Dorset - lots and lots of rain with cool temperatures - so that is a factor to consider.
I blame my 'tard mate driving the 4x4 who was nudging me with his bumper whilst I was stooped over taking the pic!