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illustrations) on the NS M
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John, Unfortunately I didn't know to look for the three yellow spots -- =
maybe one of those cases of not seeing what you're not looking for. My =
guess is that in the shade at the trail's side yellow spots may have =
not been terribly distinct from the orange. Certainly they're not that =
obvious in the photos I referred to -- they would stand out more in a =
darker variation. As I mentioned, process of elimination encourages me =
to think it was a Red-bellied -- don't see how it could be any of the =
other few Nova Scotian snakes.
From: John and Nhung=20
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2011 12:15 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Snake in Timberlea
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.
=20
Also, if you pick one up, they tend to smear you with a characteristic =
stench, similar to eau de garter snake but worse!
=20
John S.
=20
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
=20
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.=20
Brian Bartlett, Halifax
=20
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CanvasTabStop=3D"true" name=3D"Compose message area">
<DIV><FONT face=3DCalibri>John, Unfortunately I didn't know to look for =
the three=20
yellow spots -- maybe one of those cases of not seeing what you're not =
looking=20
for. My guess is that in the shade at the trail's side yellow =
spots may=20
have not been terribly distinct from the orange. Certainly they're not =
that=20
obvious in the photos I referred to -- they would stand out more in a =
darker=20
variation. As I mentioned, process of elimination encourages me to think =
it was=20
a Red-bellied -- don't see how it could be any of the other few Nova =
Scotian=20
snakes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style=3D"font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A=20
title=3D"mailto:nhungjohn@eastlink.ca CTRL + Click to follow link"=20
href=3D"mailto:nhungjohn@eastlink.ca">John and Nhung</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, May 01, 2011 12:15 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A=20
title=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca CTRL + Click to follow link" =
href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> RE: [NatureNS] Snake in Timberlea</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=3DWordSection1>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: =
11pt">Did=20
the snake have three yellowish spots around the neck? That=92s =
diagnostic=20
for a red-belly. They are very common, but secretive, and are our =
smallest=20
snake species. Seems to me, as well, there=92s usually silver and =
black=20
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=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: =
11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: =
11pt">Also,=20
if you pick one up, they tend to smear you with a characteristic stench, =
similar=20
to eau de garter snake but worse!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: =
11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: =
11pt">John =20