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Snake ID Dordogne France |
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administrator
Admin Group Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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Posted: 05 Jan 2005 at 7:09pm |
I'm a new member.maybe your other members can help with identification of this snake..sorry no pictures.
Several found in the Dordogne area of France
All found dead in October...probably hit by cars
About 30cms long and slim
medium grey body with tiny scales
head and neck putty colour i.e. cream with a hint of green
a number of black squiggles on head.
could this be an immature aesculapian snake? time of year suggests not. any ideas?
Posted by admin on behalf of Robert Wallman
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Vicar
Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1184 |
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Had a quick look at my France distribution maps - looking at Dordogne area. These are all snakes which are listed, Suggest you check out some pics using a web search engine ? Montpellier snake (you were a little N of usual range) Western whip snake - Possibly a Juvenile, tho would expect some black markings on body. Aesculapian snake, not sure about black squiggles Ladder snake (again you were a bit N) Grass snake Viperine Snake Smooth (& southern) snake Adder (maybe) Asp viper Couldn't see a good fit to your description. Your quoted lengths are quite short, don't suppose they could have been slow-worms ?, though again, not sure about squiggles. Good hunting :P
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djp_phillips
Senior Member Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 180 |
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I am a French herp 'specialist', I'd say coronella austriaca, Malpolon
(montpellier snakes) don't occur there... Could at that size be a juvenile Western whip snake, although it may also be an Aesculapian snake, but, giving the time of year, it is for me a coronelle, because in late summer, begining automn, they do prefer cool cloudier temp. and as you found more then one... Hierophis & Zamenis are much rarer... See photos opn my site (reptilia-amphibia.net) |
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Reptiles & Amphibians of France:
www.herpfrance.com European Field Herping Community: www.euroherp.com |
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Dan Kane
Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 198 |
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Yes, i'd say Coronella austriaca (Smooth Snake), as they prefer cooler and cloudier weather then other snakes in that region.
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Dan
www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com |
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djp_phillips
Senior Member Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 180 |
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Dordogne is where the Americain bullfrog has a colony
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Reptiles & Amphibians of France:
www.herpfrance.com European Field Herping Community: www.euroherp.com |
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Dan Kane
Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 198 |
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It's also bred in the Po Valley in N. Italy, and in N. Kent, but all I know is that attempts were made to stop it.
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Dan
www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com |
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djp_phillips
Senior Member Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 180 |
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yes, but they are meant to be quite common compared to other places in
Dordogne. I am going there in late spring, I hope to find coronella austriaca and Rana catesneiana. Also Vipera |
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Reptiles & Amphibians of France:
www.herpfrance.com European Field Herping Community: www.euroherp.com |
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