Snake, Natrix Natrix

[Trackerman]

A month ago I was able to catch this beauty in a small dam. Since childhood I was always interested of reptiles and spiders, so I was very happy this day
The children that was with me this day was excited by the snake.

Sorry about lousy pic, but does this species exist in UK?

 

[Andy80F]

The Grass snake (Natrix Natrix) is one of the few native British snakes. You seem to have a way with the snake the grass snake often lets go a pungent odour that lasts for a fair while on the skin and can ruin clothes, they are also known to play dead. Reasonably common round the New Forest.

Andy

 

[Trackerman]

You can be sure that I needed to clean my hands properly afterwards. ) Ok, you call it Grass snake. In swedish it´s called Snok or vatten(water)snok.
When caught it let the odour on my hands and made a hizzing noise, but after a minute or so the snake calms down, and then was easy to handle.
This is not the first snake that I have handle with. I actually caught two smaller ones before this one.

 

[Radix lecti]

Cool pics Trackerman, it seems quite happy with you.
Darren

 

[Trackerman]

Thanks Darren! Is that a Anguis fragilis on your avatar?

 

[Radix lecti]

Thanks Darren! Is that a Anguis fragilis on your avatar?

Yes Trackerman! Known in the UK as the slow-worm.

 

[Trackerman]

Ok. Known in Sweden as Kopparorm or Kopparödla (like Coppersnake/lizard)

 

[JonathanD]

Ok. Known in Sweden as Kopparorm or Kopparödla (like Coppersnake/lizard)

Now THAT is a good name for them. Slow-worm or Blind-worm is just a silly name.

 

[Trackerman]

Slow-worm or Blind-worm is just a silly name.

Maybe, but it´s a beautiful lizard. We have lots of them. Is there plenty of Vipera Berus where you live? I have searched in the forest nearby my place, but only once I ran into one, some years ago.

 

[JonathanD]

Maybe, but it´s a beautiful lizard. We have lots of them. Is there plenty of Vipera Berus where you live? I have searched in the forest nearby my place, but only once I ran into one, some years ago.

I wouldn't say plenty, but there are colonies throughout the UK and can be found readily if you know where to look. Anguis fragilis is the most common reptile by far, I find tens of them daily when surveying for V.berus.

 

[_scorpio_]

is it just me, or is that grass snake (why dont we call it a water snake???!) very black compared to our ones?

 

[JonathanD]

is it just me, or is that grass snake (why dont we call it a water snake???!) very black compared to our ones?

The colour range of grass snakes is really diverse. We get black or melanistic ones here too.

Same with adders.

 

[Barn Owl]

The colour range of grass snakes is really diverse. We get black or melanistic ones here too.

Same with adders.

Jonathan,

Is that Adder pic a true representation?

I've just had a few painkillers and wonder if i'm tripping..

Lovely colour if true.

 

[JonathanD]

Jonathan,

Is that Adder pic a true representation?

I've just had a few painkillers and wonder if i'm tripping..

Lovely colour if true.

It is true. I've found the most amazing perfectly black adders, to adders that are a very deep blue and even lilac coloured. You also get them with the zig zag merged into a very wide stripe.

 

[JonathanD]

Here you go....

 

[BOD]

Beautiful snake. Not sure about the bearded bloke. Looks venomous

 

[_scorpio_]

love that purple! could collect a few of them and breed them to be bright pink!