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--Boundary_(ID_4USdeary0XAIt9kXk9C5Jw)
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Did the snake have three yellowish spots around the neck? That's diagnostic
for a red-belly. They are very common, but secretive, and are our smallest
snake species. Seems to me, as well, there's usually silver and black
speckling on either side of the belly, but am not sure if that is always
present.
Also, if you pick one up, they tend to smear you with a characteristic
stench, similar to eau de garter snake but worse!
John S.
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]
On Behalf Of Brian Bartlett
Sent: May-01-11 11:44 AM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: [NatureNS] Snake in Timberlea
Yesterday in Timberlea, Halifax County, on the BLT trail near the beginning
of the Bluff Wilderness Trail, I saw what was for me a puzzling snake --
about 10-12 inches long, thinner than an adult Garter S and not striped. I
gently turned part of the snake over with one stem of my sunglasses and saw
little colour difference between the top and the belly -- a dull orange. At
home I checked 3 books & 3 on-line sources. Peterson Guide to Reptiles &
Amphibians (3rd ed.) says that the Redbelly (Red-bellied) Snake is "subject
to great variations," and that "the belly colour, normally bright red, may
vary through orange to pale yellow" -- so I'm guessing, also with process of
elimination and the resemblance of what I saw to the Redbelly in the photos
on p. 309 in Peterson and the photos (but not the illustrations) on the NS
Museum website, that this must've been a Redbelly. Those I've seen before
had genuine red bellies. (Wouldn't you know it, this was one day I hadn't
taken my camera.) If any herpitology buffs have other ideas, I'd appreciate
hearing.
Brian Bartlett, Halifax
--Boundary_(ID_4USdeary0XAIt9kXk9C5Jw)
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=3DEN-CA link=3Dblue =
vlink=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>Did the snake have three yellowish spots around the neck? =
That’s diagnostic for a red-belly. They are very common, but =
secretive, and are our smallest snake species. Seems to me, as =
well, there’s usually silver and black speckling on either side of =
the belly, but am not sure if that is always =
present.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>Also, if you pick one up, they tend to smear you with a =
characteristic stench, similar to eau de garter snake but =
worse!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'>John S.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497=
D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div =
style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm =
0cm 0cm'><p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span lang=3DEN-US =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span>=
</b><span lang=3DEN-US =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> =
naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] =
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Brian Bartlett<br><b>Sent:</b> May-01-11 11:44 =
AM<br><b>To:</b> naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<br><b>Subject:</b> [NatureNS] =
Snake in Timberlea<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Yesterday in Timberlea, =
Halifax County, on the BLT trail near the beginning of the =
Bluff Wilderness Trail, I saw what was for me a puzzling snake =
-- about 10-12 inches long, thinner than an adult Garter S and not =
striped. I gently turned part of the snake over with one stem of my =
sunglasses and saw little colour difference between the top and the =
belly -- a dull orange. At home I checked 3 books & 3 on-line =
sources. Peterson Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians (3rd ed.) says that =
the Redbelly (Red-bellied) Snake is "subject to great =
variations," and that "the belly colour, normally bright red, =
may vary through orange to pale yellow" -- so I'm guessing, also =
with process of elimination and the resemblance of what I saw to the =
Redbelly in the photos on p. 309 in Peterson and the photos (but not the =
illustrations) on the NS M