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1st grassie of 2006 |
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Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
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Hi all, Here is some of the gang of Natrix caught at Wintry Wood last week. As I mentioned, they are all in the process of slough. Out of the nine I checked, four were at milky eye stage and two were about to shed. a lot of discarded casts were around about. Given that two thirds of those caught were in that condition, one might suspect (even conclude!) that the shedding process is not related to an individuals growth, so much, as a generic species response to seasonal changes or even weather patterns. It is highly unlikely that given the numbers, this could be just coincidence. Cheers Robert Edited by GemmaJF |
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RobV
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Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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Hi Rob, I wonder how much the hot weather followed by rain had to do with the synchronised sloughing? I've been seeing Nn in slough all week under ACOs. PS we seem to have some hatchling grassies in the garden (our compost heap has been a success at last I guess!) have to see if I can get some piccies of the sub-caudal scales for you |
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Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
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Gemma, thanks, that would be great if you could let me have those. If you can't get good pics, perhaps you could work out how many males/females there were in the total you collect. thanks again. Robert |
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RobV
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Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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Will do Rob if I have time to catch up with them between wizzing around the countryside. Kinda nice on a day off to find baby lizards and hatchling snakes in the garden though, all doing OK without me needing to do anything. Certainly a win for simple habitat creation. We have at least two broods of lizards, the size difference is amazing between those born a few weeks ago and the latest arrivals. I didn't even know we had two gravid females around
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Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
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Gemma, it must feel good to have created the right conditions for the snakes and lizards to breed in your garden! Wow, imagine if ten thousand people could do that across the UK and what a difference that would make to herp pops . Mind you, the frogs etc might take a bashing. I'm taking my 'tins' down near to the egg laying sites tomorrow. I hope its not too late. Ive used the corr bitu sheets that you suggested and have painted one of the four green to see if it makes a difference to the numbers found under. If not, I'll paint them all, as i think the tins will need abit of camouflage against too many prying eyes/over eager interest from gen pub. i'll let you know how it goes. R
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RobV
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