Strange-Animal

The Woodland Blind Snake

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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Woodland Blind Snake </span>Phototypesetter<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>proximal<span style="font-family: inherit;"> is a predominately nocturnal, burrowing snake which spends most of its life under deep leaf litter or underground. It is one of about 30 species of blind or worm snakes found in Australia. It is non venomous, has microscopic teeth and considered harmless to humans. It is seldom observed with sightings usually being made after heavy rainfall or on warm damp nights.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The Woodland Blind Snake was first recorded by E.R. Waite in 1893 (Waite 1893). It is also referred to as </span><span style="background-color: white;">Australopithecus<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">proximal<span style="font-family: inherit;"> (</span>Mayan<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 2009)</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The Woodland Blind Snake has an average length of about 50 cm but can be up to 75 cm (Gow 1989). It has a dark brown, shiny appearance with no discernible head and extremely small eyes which are covered by a scale. The snout is bluntly tri-lobed from above and angular in profile, but not hooked. The nasal cleft is visible from above; extending to the first labial. There are 20 mid body scales around the body (Kinghorn 1929; Gow 1989). Wilson & Knowles (1988) states the identification of Blind Snakes is difficult in the field and microscopic examination is required.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The Woodland Blind Snake is found in eastern Australia and extends from northern Queensland; through the most of New South Wales into northern Victoria and eastern South Australia. In Victoria it is only found north of the Great Dividing Range with concentrations in the Goldfields and Riverina bioregions. Box – Ironbark forest areas around Dunolly, Inglewood and Bendigo are important but have unfortunately become fragmented which restricts populations to isolated areas.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Records in the Stawell and Grampians area date back to the late 1960’s early 70’s which could mean they are no longer present in this part of the state.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Woodland Blind Snake is mainly confined to intact forested areas which have not been subject to cultivation. Typical habitat includes a good cover of leaf litter, old large trees and fallen logs. In Victoria they have been found in Black Box, Grey Box and Red Gum woodlands and also within areas of intact roadside and streamside vegetation (Driscoll 2004; Brown et al. 2008).</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Woodland Blind Snake shelters within the leaf litter, burrowing in the earth into ant and termite nest corridors and chambers, or using rocks and debris for refuge (Stothers et al. 1999). It feeds entirely on termites and the eggs, larvae and pupae of ants (Wilson & Knowles 1988) as well as small insects (Kinghorn 1929). According to (Wilson and Swan 2003) in the IUCN Red List assessment, the Woodland Blind Snake feeds solely on the eggs, larvae and pupae of Bulldog Ants, Myrmecia spp.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The Woodland Blind Snake lays a number of eggs in the soil, with reports varying from as many as 13 to 35 eggs.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The Woodland Blind Snake has the capacity (like other Blind snakes) to deter predation by emitting an unpleasant odour from anal glands (Wilson & Knowles 1988), this offers only limited protection from burrowing elapids like the genus Vermicella (Bandy Bandy) that predate exclusively on blind snakes.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">the Woodland Blind Snake has been subject to significant threats from habitat loss due to clearing, loss of ground layer woody debris and cultivation across its range. In Victoria, the Woodland Blind Snake population has in effect been broken up into isolated areas of remnant forest caused through land clearing. Blind Snake habitat in areas of remnant vegetation on private land may be impacted upon by grazing through creation of sparse ground cover. In the Goldfields bioregion many areas of Box-Ironbark forest have now been reserved into the Parks system but the threats associated with surviving in isolated remnants still remains.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Riverina bioregion intact roadside remnants have been identified as important remnant habitat for the Woodland Blind Snake because so much of the areas original native vegetation has been removed. Brownet al. (1998) suggest there has been a region-wide decline in the status of reptiles in the Victorian Riverina.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Predation</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">; foxes and feral cats could prey on the Woodland Blind Snake when it is on or near ground level, particularly at night but the level of predation in is unknown.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Lack of knowledge</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">; there is a limited understanding of this species population status and ecology. The Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (DSE 2008) records a total of 139 sightings dating from December 1893 to April 2005. This low number of records for Victoria could be attributed to the cryptic nature of the Woodland Blind Snake or a low and declining population, The IUCN assessment recommends further research to ensure that this species does not trigger a higher threat category (Maryan 2009). “Regrettably the Woodland Blind Snake has not been the focus of much, if any, dedicated research” (Brown per’s comm. 2008). Significantly more in depth research is essential to establish and document a habitat inventory and related management processes.</span><br />
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The Woodland Blind Snake

The Woodland Blind Snake Phototypesetter proximal is a predominately nocturnal, burrowing snake which spends most of its life under d...

The Cobra

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mZw9ZIwqpD7trK7nufcqs6zrA-_Sax-9GIXkLD2Wxa2bV98DX_jMUyOngLIFVPOe4_chyphenhyphenEcazU6ApZ0SCHw_TEhbY7WtbIFCdpJeCV30Mnf8qq8KiQadoleqOTL0WpVkaOk7JhoSf9Q/s1600/cobra.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mZw9ZIwqpD7trK7nufcqs6zrA-_Sax-9GIXkLD2Wxa2bV98DX_jMUyOngLIFVPOe4_chyphenhyphenEcazU6ApZ0SCHw_TEhbY7WtbIFCdpJeCV30Mnf8qq8KiQadoleqOTL0WpVkaOk7JhoSf9Q/s320/cobra.jpeg" width="320" /></a>Two subspecies of cobras are found in Pakistan. the Indian or Sdectacled cobra(Naia naia naia)<br />
and the Central Asian/Oxus or Brown cobra(Naia naia oxiana). Both these subsdecies of cobra are about the same size. Average length is 1.9 meters.with a maximum lenath of 2.4 meters.N.naia has a bespectacled marking on back of the neck (also visible from front on rare sdecimens).The hood radiance varies general heavier.shorter than females.but tails longer.N.oxiana is similar in appearance. but lacks the spectacle marking as in N.naia. The Indian or spectacled cobra(N.naia)is a medium-sized scale absent: head not distinct from neck which is dilatable in life in to a broad hood: lo real scale absent: single fanq on each side. followed bv 1-3 small solid teeth: scales smooth shinv. in 21-23 at midrib: centrals 182-196, subclass 53-67. Single pair of periodontal, absence of lo real scale and smooth dorsal.<br />
Color very variable,from jet black,dark olive or dark brown dorsum. Ventrum pale gray to yellowish,with heavy slate gray or dark brown clouding. A spectacle mark on hood dorsum, and a ventral large ocellus, consisting of an outer yellow ring with central dark eye,mesially interrupted by ventral. some are dark clouded. Variegated specimens with light-edged light brown scales are met with in punjab,while jet black are very rare. juvenile has speckled or uniform dorsal pattern. Snout-vent length 1658 mm, tail 269 mm. The Central Asian/Oxus or Brown cobra has ventrals 191-210, subcaudals 62-71; single maxillary tooth(fang) on each side;juvenile pattern condpicuously banded, bands around the body.<br />
Light yellowish to light brown,with or without a hoodmark. Some ventrals underhood dark.ventrum clouded with black. Snout-vent lenght 1370-1512 mm, tail 228-236 mm.this cobra is diurnal,mostly activeduring evening and early morning. It may enter human dwellings when hunting It restlessly moves from place to place in search or prey,which mainly consists of mice,rats poultry,frogs and snakes. Normaly,it is not considered aggressive,particularly shy oj human beings and wil avoid confrontation. Habitually it avoids confrontation with man,at a chance en-counter,first priority is to escape undetected.On sending danger it lifts anterior part of its body to have a good look at its surroundings.If not provoked,it lets fall it's body and slips quietly away.However,if provoked, it hisses loudly and sways its hood to advertise its presence,and displays the hood markings to impress its adversary. it fixes tis eyes to the sourceor annoyance,keenly following its movements.However,all the time at the lookout to have a chance to avoid conrontation and slip away. The swaying of hood with dorsal spectacle mark and ventral yellow ocellus, coupled with loud hiss, arc measures to just look as fearsome and as big as possible,to inpress the enemy.Cobra attacks viciously and furiously  and furiously,striking with full strength and biting savagely,chewing the bitten pen. When biting,It hold on and chews savagely.May strike repeatedly. This snake can be exceptionaly quick -moving and agile.The fangs and venom glands of both subspecies are large.The venom is highly toxic.Snake bite symptoms begin approximately 8 minutes after bite.Victims experiences anxiety the pulse quickens,grows weak and irregular. The victim soon falls in to deep coma.Cobra frequents different habitats: grasslands,vegetation along tilled fields,along water courses,semidesert forests,barns,ruins with grassy growths and around villages. it is plentiful in paddy growing areas,where it is attracted by mice and poultry in to living houses. It rat holes after consuming its occupant.

The Cobra

Two subspecies of cobras are found in Pakistan. the Indian or Sdectacled cobra(Naia naia naia) and the Central Asian/Oxus or Brown cobra(...

The Python

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp96vMwZCrVKzfirpCk1EvtaZ5HJ7Xpd6vcdglYRAeZfxxcG1MTwN7c27gy7B6mqMl6MF_GoUzHcoE-uzNWYEvJA2OFuoQkmz9o2j7trMd_C6_4YTpMwG5mn521A18v_ooLusR4LbirE/s1600/tl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp96vMwZCrVKzfirpCk1EvtaZ5HJ7Xpd6vcdglYRAeZfxxcG1MTwN7c27gy7B6mqMl6MF_GoUzHcoE-uzNWYEvJA2OFuoQkmz9o2j7trMd_C6_4YTpMwG5mn521A18v_ooLusR4LbirE/s640/tl.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">A member of the boa family, South America’s green anaconda is, pound for pound, the largest snake in the world. Its cousin, the reticulated python, can reach slightly greater lengths, but the enormous girth of the anaconda makes it almost twice as heavy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Green anacondas can grow to more than 29 feet (8.8 meters), weigh more than 550 pounds (227 kilograms), and measure more than 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter. Females are significantly larger than males. Other anaconda species, all from South America and all smaller than the green anaconda, are the yellow, dark-spotted, and Bolivian varieties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anacondas live in swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams, mainly in the tropical rain forests of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. They are cumbersome on land, but stealthy and sleek in the water. Their eyes and nasal openings are on top of their heads, allowing them to lay in wait for prey while remaining nearly completely submerged.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They reach their monumental size on a diet of wild pigs, deer, birds, turtles, capybara, caimans, and even jaguars. Anacondas are nonvenomous constrictors, coiling their muscular bodies around captured prey and squeezing until the animal asphyxiates. Jaws attached by stretchy ligaments allow them to swallow their prey whole, no matter the size, and they can go weeks or months without food after a big meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Female anacondas retain their eggs and give birth to two to three dozen live young. Baby snakes are about 2 feet (0.6 meters) long when they are born and are almost immediately able to swim and hunt. Their lifespan in the wild is about ten years</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">.</span><span style="background-color: ivory; line-height: 25.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anacondas make their home in the Amazon jungles of South America and are part of the Boa Constrictor family.  Anacondas live near rivers, lakes and swamps and like to live alone.  Water is their main escape method when confronted with danger. Rather than attacking they will choose to slide into the water unnoticed, if possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anacondas eat amphibious animals, like frogs & toads, as well as fish, caiman, birds, ducks and turtles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The average size of one of these snake-giants is 6.1 m (20 feet) long and 148.5 kg. (300 pounds)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anacondas give birth to live young, around 24-35 at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anacondas are very difficult for scientists to study or even find.  They are really quiet and leave no trail.  They spend a lot of their time in the dark waters of their habitat.</span></div>

The Python

A member of the boa family, South America’s green anaconda is, pound for pound, the largest snake in the world. Its cousin, the reticulat...

This Is Snake Venomous

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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite the inherent fear that many people face, when a snake crosses their path, wildlife respecting people will often ask themselves, “How do I know if this snake is dangerous or harmless?” As a snake conservationist, I appreciate and respect the people that ask these questions, before they start swinging the shovel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to write this article to help the average person identify some of the telltale characteristics of our indigenous venomous snakes, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and</span> direct them toward more comprehensive resources for identification in their own back yard. As always, I will include photos that can better demonstrate these characteristics as well, and give folks a basis for what these critters will look like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We will cover some of the most commonly discussed attributes, that many people have heard of, and use as the occasion arises. However, before we get started, let’s take a look at the photos below, and see if you can pick out which snakes are venomous, and which are harmles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/northern-water-snake.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-450" height="449" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/northern-water-snake.jpg?w=640&h=449" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/northern_copperhead2.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by John White This is a beautiful Northern Copperhead" class="size-full wp-image-455" height="419" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/northern_copperhead2.jpg?w=640&h=419" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="line-height: 24px;">Last is the </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Broad-Banded Copperhead</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">. Though it lacks definition in the hourglass pattern, you see that it still resembles its close relatives above. There is also one other subspecies of Copperhead, called the </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Trans Pecos Copperhead</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> in Texas, which looks very similar to the Broad-Banded below.</span><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/broad_banded_copperhead.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by John White Broad-Banded Copperhead from Texas" class="size-full wp-image-456" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/broad_banded_copperhead.jpg?w=640" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Water Moccasin</strong><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"> – </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Agkistrodon piscivorous</em><br /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">The Water Moccasin (also known as the Cottonmouth) is closely related to the Copperhead, and they are often found in the same geographical ranges. The Water Moccasin, however, is much more dependent on an available water source where it can catch some of its favorite food items like fish and frogs. They are typically darker in color and more muted in pattern than the Copperhead, but young Cottonmouths are vibrantly patterned, and then lose much of their contrasting pattern as they age.</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">One of the most difficult times people have with separating harmless from venomous snakes, occurs between Cottonmouths, and the wide variety of Water Snakes (refer to the first photo in this article). Both species love the water, and can be quite similarly patterned. Their head shape can look triangular – though the Water Moccasin’s head is much more prominently triangle-shaped, and they are both relatively heavy-bodied (almost fat looking) snakes. The one major difference, which I will cover a bit later, is pupil shape. While Water Moccasins, as well as Rattlesnakes and Copperheads all have elliptical (vertical – or cat eye-shaped) pupils, Water Snakes do indeed have round pupils. If you need this characteristic to help you ID the snake, however, you may be a bit closer to a potentially venomous critter, than you want to be, so please exercise caution. Zooming in with your camera or using binoculars can come in quite handy here.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">The Water Moccasin has perhaps the most notorious reputation in the U.S. for being overly aggressive. There are more urban legends about these “demons” than any other snake. I’ve heard everything from them chasing people, to jumping out of trees on folks, and even climbing into boats to bite hapless fishermen. In my experience, and in the experience of my </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">many</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"> snake-expert friends, this reputation is completely undeserved. These snakes are as likely to flee from humans as pretty much any other snake.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Below is a photo I took in Central Florida of a young Water Moccasin I found crossing the road, late at night. Check out that triangular head, and chubby body! Although I do not encourage you to do this yourself, I really wanted to capture the iconic photo of this snake gaping at me, to show off its bright white mouth, that gives it its common name. Try as I might, the snake simply would not cooperate. I nudged it, prodded it, and even put a little pressure on it with my foot, but the darn thing refused to show off its mouth, or jump up and bite me on the face. He just kept crawling away! Maybe he was just exhausted from biting his limit of fishermen that day. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Or</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"> maybe all those stories you’ve heard, are just fish tales. Consider the source. </span></span><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/cotton.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Jamison Hensley My foot within striking distance of the nefarious Cotton Mouth" class="size-full wp-image-457" height="750" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/cotton.jpg?w=640&h=750" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Below is a photo of an adult Western Water Moccasin. You’ll notice that it is much darker, and lacks much of the pattern of the young one above. This photographer was able to get the photo I was hoping for, and if you look closely, you can even see the elliptical pupil, differentiating it from the round pupil of the Water Snake.</span><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/western_cottonmouth.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Steve Metz Western Water Moccasin showing why it got the name Cotton Mouth" class="size-full wp-image-458" height="480" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/western_cottonmouth.jpg?w=640&h=480" style="background: transparent; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coral Snake</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> – For more information, please see my other article on Coral snakes here: </span>Red and Yellow Kills a Fellow</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Although Coral snakes are elapids, and pack a potent venom, they are quite cryptic, are quick to avoid interaction with humans, and are the cause of very few venomous bites in the United States each year. Coral snakes can be identified as a relatively small, tri-colored snake, with a black head, and yellow bands that separate black and red bands. These bands will also continue all the way around the snake – not stopping at the belly, as with most of the harmless tri-colored snakes. Remember the rhyme “Red touches yellow, kills a fellow. Red touches black, is a friend to Jack.”, and you will be well on your way to identifying friend from foe in the U.S. However, please note that this rhyme will not always work in other countries. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Arizona Coral Snake – </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Micruroides euryxanthus</em><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">I took this photo in Southern Arizona. The snake was pencil-thin, and would not hold still for anything. Several friends and I surrounded this snake for a 15 minute photo-shoot, and despite being nose-to-nose with a “cold-blooded killer”, were in no more danger than we would be in our own kitchens. They simply pose very little threat to humans unless picked up.</span><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/coral.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Jamison Hensley Arizona Coral Snake" class="size-full wp-image-459" height="388" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/coral.jpg?w=640&h=388" style="background: transparent; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Eastern Coral Snake – </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Micrurus fulvius</em><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">The Eastern Coral Snake, has the same pattern sequence as the Arizona Coral, but can get a bit bigger, and is more likely to have black speckling on its red and yellow bands, giving it a less contrasting pattern.</span><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rattlesnakes</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">There are some 32 species of rattlesnakes, with even more subspecies. This family of snake is wide-ranging and diverse. They can differ drastically is size, habitat, color and pattern. However different they may be, rattlesnakes still have one defining characteristic in the United States, that is identifiable both by sight and sound. This of course, is the rattle. In the U.S., they’ve all got them. Babies have them, females have them, Pygmy Rattlesnakes have them, and so forth. The tail is your best indicator, in identifying if a snake is a rattler or not.</span><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/arizona-2010-008.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Arizona Black Rattlesnake" class="size-full wp-image-90" height="528" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/arizona-2010-008.jpg?w=640&h=528" style="background: transparent; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/arizona-2010-083.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Jamison Hensley Arizona Ridge-nose Rattlesnake - Crotalus Willardi" class="size-full wp-image-122" height="480" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/arizona-2010-083.jpg?w=640&h=480" style="background: transparent; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/lut17.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="First button of newborn rattlesnake (crotalus oreganus lutosus)" class=" wp-image-308 " height="480" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/lut17.jpg?w=640&h=480" style="background: transparent; border: none; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/timber.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Jamison Hensley Timber Rattlesnake - Crotalus horridus" class="size-full wp-image-463" height="480" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/timber.jpg?w=640&h=480" style="background: transparent; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">The small rattlesnake below is a member of the Pygmy rattlesnake family. They do have small rattles, but they are certainly present.</span><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/western-massasauga.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f1f1f1; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Jamison Hensley Western Massasauga Rattlesnake - Sistrurus catenatus" class="size-full wp-image-464" height="496" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/western-massasauga.jpg?w=640&h=496" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/sidewinder-rattlesnake-crotalus-cerastes.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Jamison Hensley Sidewinder Rattlesnake - Crotalus cerastes" class="size-full wp-image-466" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/sidewinder-rattlesnake-crotalus-cerastes.jpg?w=640" style="background: transparent; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">The photo below, is for my friend Kathy, who lives in Florida, and was told that Pygmy Rattlesnakes do not have rattles. The answer is yes, they do have rattles. However, their rattle is even more diminutive than the snake, and may only be perceptible from a range that would put you closer than you want to be. These rattles are so small, that they are sometimes almost inaudible. Truth be told, I have seen a couple of photos of these critters that have had an injury or deformity that has left the snake rattle-less. This is the exception though, not the rule. If you come across a snake, and you truly think it might be a rattlesnake, utilize the identification strategies we will discuss below, to determine if it is harmless or not.</span><br /><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dusky_pygmy_rattlesnake.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake - Sistrurus miliarius" class="size-full wp-image-467" height="511" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dusky_pygmy_rattlesnake.jpg?w=640&h=511" style="background: transparent; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.5;">So, do you think you know? Did you utilize all your knowledge regarding triangular heads, elliptical pupils, and color patterns? Are you ready for the answers? Here we go!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Photo 1: This is a </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">harmless </strong>Northern Water snake. Did we fool you? Water snakes and some other species, do have somewhat triangular-shaped heads, and can even flatten them out more when threatened, making themselves look more intimidating.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Photo 2: This is a </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">harmless</strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: green; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sonoran Shovel-nosed snake. It may sport the same red on yellow pattern as the venomous Coral snake, but this little snake makes its living eating insects, and could no sooner hurt a human, than it could sprout wings and fly. We can also tell that this snake is NOT a venomous Coral Snake, because it does not have a black head, and its red and black bands do not go all of the way around the body, like the Coral Snake’s do. If you look closely, you will notice that the black and red bands fade to yellow toward the belly of the snake.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Photo 3: This is a </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">harmless </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Lyre snake</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">. It has elliptical pupils, but poses absolutely no threat to humans.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Photo 4: Wow this one looks dangerous, right? Well, I hate to disappoint, but this is yet another </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">harmless </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">snake. It is a </span>Hog-nosed snake<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">, and one of the better fakers in the snake kingdom. They can flatten their neck, almost like a cobra, and even have some enlarged teeth in the back of their mouths. However, even though they are technically considered “rear-fanged venomous” these guys are very popular in the pet trade, and again, do not make a habit of, or have the proper equipment, to hurt people.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Obviously, there are some snakes in the U.S. that do pose a threat to humans, and I want to highlight them as well. However, I wanted first to help you understand that many snakes are needlessly killed because they are confused for their “dangerous” relatives. With a little time and research, I am confident that you will be able to identify which snakes in your area can pose a threat to humans versus those that are not only harmless to people, but that are great to have around your home.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Hopefully the photos above have shown that there may be exceptions to every “rule”, but my intentions are not to cause more confusion. Despite the photos you just saw, many of the common identification tricks, are still “generally accurate”. I am not asking you to completely forget everything you thought you knew about venomous snakes, but am asking you to build upon your current understanding, by adding a little more knowledge to it.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Since there are vastly more harmless snakes in the United States than there are venomous ones, perhaps a good place to start, is by identifying the venomous ones. There are four general families of venomous snakes in the U.S. They are the Copperhead, Water Moccasin (or Cotton Mouth), the Coral Snake and the Rattlesnake. Let’s take a quick look at each of these families of snake, to get a general idea of what they might look like when we see one in the wild.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Copperhead</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"> </span></b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">– </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Agkistrodon contortrix</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Copperheads are fairly common in certain parts of the country, and because of their large geographic range, account for a fairly large percentage of venomous bites each year, That said, a Copperhead bite is very rarely life-threatening when proper medical treatment is administered. Their venom is relatively weak compared to our other native venomous snakes.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Copperheads are generally identified as a medium-sized snake with an alternating pattern  of tan bands separated by darker brown or rust-colored, hourglass-shaped crossbands. There are a handful of subspecies in the Copperhead family, so I’ve added the pictures below to help with identification.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Though I have better close-up photos of the snake below, I think this picture better captures what you might see in the wild, and also better highlights the hourglass-shaped crossbands I referred to earlier. My buddies (Jason and Shaun) and I found this Copperhead on a trip to Kansas and Missouri. I hadn’t seen one in the wild, since I was a kid living in Arkansas, it was a very welcome reunion.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Below is a </span>Northern Copperhead<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">. Though it looks similar to the photo above, it becomes apparent that there can be some variation in color and pattern, and also in photography skills. Haha!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Even if you do determine that you have found a Coral Snake, I can think of very few instances, when killing such an animal, is the best option. They are so incredibly shy, that accidental bites (an instance where someone was not picking up or harassing the animal) are virtually unheard of.</span><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/coral1.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Pierson Hill Eastern Coral Snake" class="size-full wp-image-462" height="428" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/coral1.jpg?w=640&h=428" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are no rattlesnake/harmless snake hybrids roaming the hills that look harmless, but have the venom of a rattler. There are plenty of urban myths out there to suggest otherwise, but rest assured, they are not based in fact. I’ll go ahead and post several photos of various species of rattler, showing that they all have that one definitive characteristic in common.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now that we have more or less covered what our 4 venomous snake families in the U.S. look  like, perhaps we can spend a little time looking into those characteristics that many people use, to help them identify a venomous snake from a harmless one in the wild.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">Venomous snakes have a triangular-shaped head.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are a couple of things to consider here. The first, which we have already discussed a bit, is that some non venomous snakes can also have triangular heads, leading to the needless killing of a harmless snake. Secondly, if you look at the Coral Snake, you will notice that despite its venomous nature, its head is completely rounded, like any other harmless species. This head shape characteristic is a good start to narrow things down, but we still need a couple of steps for proper and safe identification.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s take a look at the photos below, and see if we can determine if they are safe or venomous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Identification 1:</span><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/gopher.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-469 " src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/gopher.jpg?w=640" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One could argue that this snake has a triangular head. Your first impulse – especially since it is in a defensive position – should be to stop, give the animal a little space, and make a couple of quick observations.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Does the snake have a rattle on its tail? No – So it is not a rattlesnake.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">2. What shape are the snakes’ pupils? Round –  So in addition to secondary proof that it is not a rattlesnake, you are also safe to conclude that the snake cannot be a Water Moccasin or Copperhead either. However, Coral Snakes do have round pupils, so we’ll go one step further.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Is this snake black, red and yellow? No – So the animal is not a Coral Snake.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Your conclusion:  This snake </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MUST</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"> be harmless!! This is, in fact, a harmless Gopher Snake.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">Identification 2:</span><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/garter.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Am I harmless or venomous?" class="size-full wp-image-470" height="512" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/garter.jpg?w=640&h=512" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Did you go through the steps from our last photo? What do you think? Let’s walk through it again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">1. Does the snake have a triangular-shaped head?  Yes, from this angle it kind of looks like it does. We can’t make a positive ID yet, so let’s keep going.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">2. Does the snake have a rattle on its tail? Unknown – We can’t see a rattle from this angle, and we don’t want to pick the snake up to find out, so we’d better keep going through our process of elimination.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">3. What shape are the snakes pupils? Round – Now we know that this snake is not any of our North American pit vipers. We’ve eliminated Copperhead, Water Moccasin and Rattlesnake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">4. Is the snake black, red and yellow? Yes, it is. Oh crap! Is this a Coral Snake? Let’s ask one more question.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">5. Does the snake have a solid black head, and black and red bands, separated by yellow bands? No. Thank goodness! This is not a Coral Snake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Your conclusion: This snake is </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NOT</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;"> venomous! It is actually a harmless, Red-sided Garter Snake.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Venomous snakes have vertical pupils</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">We already know that this statement is not completely accurate. There are some harmless snakes with vertical pupils, and the venomous Coral Snake has round pupils. However, since most snakes you will come across with vertical pupils will be venomous, it is another good characteristic to look into, when going through your process of elimination to identify that snake you just ran into. You already have a good start to the questions you will ask yourself, but let’s try to determine if the following snakes are venomous or harmless.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Identification 3:</span><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/night1.jpeg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Jamison Hensley" class="size-full wp-image-472" height="480" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/night1.jpeg?w=640&h=480" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">1. What shape are the snake’s pupils? Elliptical – This snake cannot be a Coral Snake.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;">2. Does the snake have a rattle?  No – So this cannot be a rattlesnake.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">3. Does the snake have a triangular-shaped head? Kind of rounded, but a little pointy – It is unlikely that this snake is a Copperhead or Cotton Mouth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">4. Is the snake slender, or heavy-bodied? Fairly slender – It is again, unlikely that this snake is a Copperhead or Cotton Mouth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Does the snake have facial pits (all American pit vipers – rattlesnakes, Copperheads and Water Moccasins have them) between its eyes and nostrils? No – This snake is not a Copperhead or Water Moccasin.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Your conclusion: This snake is </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">harmless</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">. The photo above is actually a Night </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Snake.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Identification 4:</span><a href="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/speck.jpg" sl-processed="1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #743399; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Photo by Jamison Hensley" class="size-full wp-image-474" height="380" src="http://snakebuddies.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/speck.jpg?w=640&h=380" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; height: auto; margin: 5px 5px 0px; max-width: 622px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Is the snake red, yellow and black? I don’t know! You posted a black and white photo. You must be a complete moron. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">2. Does the snake have elliptical pupils? Yes. So it must not be a Coral Snake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">3. Does the snake have a rattle? I can’t tell from this picture. Please refer to my “moron comment” above.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">4. Does the snake have a triangular head? Yes it does – This one could be venomous.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Does the snake have facial pits between its eyes and nostrils? Yes it does!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Your conclusion: This snake is definitely venomous! Exercise caution around this animal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At this point, our primary question is answered. We know the snake has a bite that could very well be of medical significance. We will treat this snake, like any other venomous snake, regardless of its specific species.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If, however, you are still anxious to know what family it belongs to, now would be the time to go back to what we know about venomous snake colors and patterns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Are Copperheads or Water Moccasins white? No they are not. – So by process of elimination, this must be some type of rattlesnake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The photo above, is in fact, a white phase Speckled Rattlesnake. I used this photo because I really like it, but it also offers a great view of those facial pits I referred to earlier. The nostrils are quite small and nearly indiscernible in the photo. However, that large, circular pit between the eye and mouth of this snake, is unmistakable.</span></div>

This Is Snake Venomous

Despite the inherent fear that many people face, when a snake crosses their path, wildlife respecting people will often ask themselves, “Ho...

The Yellow Snakes

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1Y8h2_e-6gvn7yz7gjoFmPlVIPCYWDQuAruLPBTxnaX8nVZ0rnAn97Uw7XCwRNQ-dQQBgaZOzpMSOv_Qail4O1uGVYeqrdIOqE_YMM77srsvSwFvfBd8WpFPjz7hy45bx0mZl0U0iDU/s1600/RED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1Y8h2_e-6gvn7yz7gjoFmPlVIPCYWDQuAruLPBTxnaX8nVZ0rnAn97Uw7XCwRNQ-dQQBgaZOzpMSOv_Qail4O1uGVYeqrdIOqE_YMM77srsvSwFvfBd8WpFPjz7hy45bx0mZl0U0iDU/s320/RED.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rat snakes</span> are a large,</span> polyphyletic, group of snakes from the Colubrid subfamilyColubrinae. Many species tend to be very skittish and sometimes aggressive but the genus is nonvenomous and bites are usually superficial. A variety of species like <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Elaphe guttata guttata</span> (corn snake or Red Rat snake) are known for the ease with which they are tamed and are common in the pet trade. There is considerable variation between different types of rat snake but most are medium to large, rodent eating snakes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Previously most were assigned to the genus <span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Elaphe</span> but many have been since renamed. Rat snakes have traditionally been divided into two groups, New World and Old World species.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I guess our problem is we like all snakes. They all have different attributes that make them special. Take the Rat Snake for example. They can be feistier than a corn snake and tend to be heavier bodied and max out at about 6 feet. We currently work with Black Rat Snakes and Texas Rat Snakes. The only reason we don't have more types is because we just don't have the room maybe next year</span><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Everglades rat snake may have the most striking appearance of all of the North American rat snakes. Indeed, the most outstanding examples are certainly some of the most beautiful snakes in the world. Sunshine Serpents has taken a special interest in this snake since its founding and it has become kind of our "flagship" breeding project. Most captive hobbyists associate the label Everglades rat snake with a bright orange snake with faintly visible stripes and a red tongue. In reality, many captive Everglades rat snakes fall short of this description. However, our adults generally typify the popular image of what an Everglades rat snake should be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of our stock originates from Bill and Kathy Love's old colony, which descended from another breeder named Marcia Lincoln. Lincoln reportedly acquired a particularly beautiful wild caught specimen in the late 1970's or early 1980's and selectively bred the offspring for orange coloration. We also handpicked a stand out baby from a clutch of offspring being sold by the now defunct reptile wholesaler Burgundy Reptiles. This baby showed exceptional pink coloration and we anticipated that it would grow into a beautiful adult, which it did.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the years, extensive field experience in South Florida has allowed us to observe many hundreds, possibly even thousands, of rat snakes in the wild. We have retained a few stand out examples for our colony. Our adults tend to have bright orange background coloration with barely discernable stripes. The chins and throats are usually some shade of yellow or white. Many of our hatchlings show a pinkish hue, which intensifies into orange with age. The "true" Everglades rat has become somewhat of a myth among herpetoculturists. At Sunshine Serpents, we are working to make that myth a reality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Everglades rat snake has been the subject of controversy among herpetologists since its description. Its weak differentiation from the yellow rat snake <i>E. o. </i>quadrivittata drew criticism from many herpetologists, who did not consider it distinctive enough to warrant subspecies status. To confuse the situation even more, some have suggested that the conversion of the Everglades marshlands to sugar cane fields allowed neighboring yellow rat snakes to invade the area, genetically swamping the Everglades rat snake. The apparent rarity of rat snakes fitting the popular perception of rossalleni has given it somewhat mythical status among herp enthusiasts. Does the Everglades rat snake truly exist or did it ever? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The subspecies Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni was described by Wilfred T. Neill in 1949. He named it after his friend, the famous Florida reptile dealer and showman, Ross Allen. Allen founded the Reptile Institute at Silver Springs, FL. Through his collecting exploits, Allen was apparently aware of a distinctive form of rat snake from South Florida. As with several other notable Florida rarities such as the blotched king snake and the South Florida rainbow snake, he probably made Neill aware of its presence. Allen listed "Everglades rat snakes" in his catalog long before the subspecies was officially described by Neill.</span></span></div>

The Yellow Snakes

Rat snakes are a large, polyphyletic, group of snakes from the Colubrid subfamilyColubrinae. Many species tend to be very skittish an...

The Black Rat Snake

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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The common rat snake is medium-sized, averaging 42 to 72 inches (106.7 to 183 cm) in length. At the widest point of the snake's body, its average diameter is 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). The rat snake is covered with keeled scales, and has a powerful slender body with a wedge-shaped head. The anal plate of the common rat snake is divided. A variety of subspecies is found across the United States.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The black rat snake, as the name implies, is completely black except for a white chin. Hatchlings of the black rat snake have a pale <span style="font-family: inherit;">grey background with black blotches along the back. As the snake matures, the color becomes darker until the snake reaches its adult phase. Hatchlings are often mistaken for copperheads because their skin patterns are similar.</span></span><span style="background-color: white;">Common rat snakes tend to be shy and, if possible, will avoid being confronted. If these snakes are seen and confronted by danger, they tend to freeze and remain motionless. Some adults attempt to protect themselves. They coil their body and vibrate their tails in dead leaves to simulate a rattle. If the snakes continue to be provoked, they will strike.</span><span style="background-color: white;">Rat snakes produce a foul-smelling musk and release it on the predator if they are picked up, spreading the musk around with their tail. The musk acts as a deterrent. A few of the rat snake subspecies tend to be more aggressive. The Texas rat snake and the black rat snake are very snappy, while the yellow rat snake is more passive. When alarmed, the Everglades rat snake swims away through the swampy waters. Rat snakes are excellent swimmers.</span>Black rat snakes are frequent visitors to suburban backyards, farms and fields. They are the snake mostly likely to be seen around buildings hunting for rodents, amphibians and young birds. Despite making occasional appearances throughout the summer, black rat snakes are actually very shy and at the sight of danger, will either freeze or run away.<br />Black rat snakes are between 3 ½ to 7 feet long. They have shiny black scales on the back and a light colored belly; their throat and chin are a white color. <br />The head of a black rat snake is wider than the neck and the rest of the body.<br />Black rat snakes are excellent swimmers and climbers. They will use these skills to catch a variety of food from bird eggs to frogs.   </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to give all snakes the respect they are due and keep a safe distance. Although black rat snakes do not usually attack when threatened, there have been extreme cases of black rat snakes charging at predators.  Black rat snakes also produce a strong foul odor when scared to deter predators and people.<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Look for black rat snakes in fields, woodlands, farmlands and around suburban communities from Connecticut to South Carolina and west to middle of Kansas and Oklahoma.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Rat snakes are found from New England south through Florida and west through the eastern half of Texas and Nebraska and north again to southern Wisconsin. The black rat snake is the most widely distributed common rat snake with a range from New England south through Georgia and west across the northern parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and north through Oklahoma to southern Wisconsin. There is also an isolated population in southern Canada and northern New York.</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">The yellow rat snake is found along the coast of the Carolinas south through Georgia and Florida. The Everglades rat snake has an isolated population in southern Florida's Everglades. The gray rat snake ranges from southern Georgia and northern Florida west through Mississippi and north to southern Kentucky. The Texas rat snake can be found in southern Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Common rat snakes live in a variety of habitats with each subspecies preferring a slightly different one. Some of these habitats overlap with one another. Common rat snakes are excellent climbers and spend a lot of time in trees. Black rat snakes live at elevations from sea level to high altitudes in the Appalachian Mountains. Black rat snakes live in habitats ranging from a rocky hillside to flat farmland.</span></span></span>

The Black Rat Snake

The common rat snake is medium-sized, averaging 42 to 72 inches (106.7 to 183 cm) in length. At the widest point of the snake's bod...