the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles |
|
feeding then breeding ? |
Post Reply |
Author | |
will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: 02 Apr 2007 at 6:01pm |
Had my best grass snake day for many years - gave up counting when I got to 30 animals at my local site, but I noticed that 3 of them (all males) had clearly been feeding on the local frogs / toads - very big bulges in central part of body, complete with protruding elbow / knee joints. I had assumed that grass snakes would be like adders, ie strictly no feeding til after breeding, but these males were clearly intent on the former or both activities. Is this the norm in your experience for grass snakes ? If so, do males and females feed before / during breeding or just males - and if the latter, are these males foresaking breeding for the sake of having a meal instead ?
Cheers Will |
|
herpetologic2
Forum Coordinator Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1511 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I would get that site reported Will as it sounds like an candidate for a Local Wildlife Site on grass snakes alone! Was that in Herts or Essex?
Regards
Jon |
|
Report your sightings to the Record Pool http://arguk.org/recording
|
|
will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Hi Jon
Greater London - well known site - and fully protected for once ! Cheers Will |
|
herpetologic2
Forum Coordinator Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1511 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Great
Jon |
|
Report your sightings to the Record Pool http://arguk.org/recording
|
|
Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Will, Any greater london site producing 30 Nn individuals in a day is exceptional. Like Jon said, it needs reporting to the local records herp group. Cheers R |
|
RobV
|
|
Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Hi Tony, "Males and females will feed before, and during breeding virtually as soon as they emerge. I have actually seen a female copulating and with a toad half down her throat; this was at Norden 1999." hey tone, I bet you've seen some things eh? Well, we all know that Grass Snakes like to climb trees, how about, like to mate in them as well! have you ever seen that before? R |
|
RobV
|
|
Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
haha, well sussed out Tone! there we were just admiring one another, when all these bl**dy males come up and ruin the moment! LOl |
|
RobV
|
|
Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Chased her all over the place, thought they were squirrels, not Grass snakes! R |
|
RobV
|
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |