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Small black snake? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Roger S.
- Start date
StuartReeves
Local rarity
Allen said:
Grass Snakes can also be very dark but even the almost black ones still have the yellow-green partial collar behind the head.
Stuart
JOSE JAVIER
Well-known member
could it be a VIpera berus?
StuartReeves
Local rarity
If it was all black and in a dry area then it was probably an adder, Viper berus. Grass snakes are seldom found far from fresh water.
Stuart
Stuart
LAF
Registered Member
Hi Roger. A black snake in the UK is, as has been mentioned, most likely an adder. Any snake CAN be melanic but it is very rare in the other british species. Black adders, on the other hand, occur with reasonable frequency. Yes the adder IS venomous but bites are rare and very unlikely to cause any lasting problems. Only the very young or elderly are at serious risk and even then there hasn't been a death attributable to an adder bite since 1975. Still, it would most certainly be unpleasant and meical attention should always be sought. There's a bit more info about them HERE.
Regards, Lee.
Regards, Lee.
Roger S. said:
I have seen a snake in Sevenoaks, Kent, today, in our rear garden that was the same as you mention. It was completely black and its neck narrowed before a small head.
The Adder ( Viperus berus ), melanic ( black ), is similar, but this snake had no pronounced scales that the adder has. When I put a stick near it, it poised to strike, then moved away quickly going under a neighbours fence.
Apart from the melanic Adder, I have been unable to find another similar snake listed.
Any more ideas?
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
Gutted again! When and where am I going to catch up with a black adder outside of UK Gold?
John
John
Mike Richardson
Formerly known as Skink1978
I would suggest that a dark or melanistic Grass Snake would be the most likely snake to be found in a Kent garden (Unless there is suitable adder habitat nearby).
The following link gives information on the 12 people who died due to adder bites since 1900; There is also information on first aid treatment: http://www.geocities.com/braguk/aboutadder3.html
If you find any links that have photos of young melanic ( black ) adders, that would be helpful. The garden the snake went into has two small children living there who are at present on holiday.
If you find any links that have photos of young melanic ( black ) adders, that would be helpful. The garden the snake went into has two small children living there who are at present on holiday.
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mothman
Well-known member
Yes but what would one do with the info,short of killing the whole colony,and can you be sure that your neighbour wont over react(as most folk do with snakes)noirua said:
Most if not all adder colonys date from the end of the ice age,which means that if it is an adder, the colony has been there long before your houses and you and your neighbour have been living along side them since you moved in obviously without problems.
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
mothman said:
Just to be totally pedantic there are three native species of snake in the British Isles, plus a small colony of Aesculapian Snakes in North Wales (a long way from Sevenoaks I agree): of late there have been all sorts of things escaping or being released, including Corn Snakes, pythons spp., one report of an Anaconda..... the sort of thing that will be assisted to survive by global warming. Unless we get an Ice Age instead.
The RAUK website is a good read.
John
Thank you very much for your information on snakes. My knowledge was nil a few days ago and I've been forced into a rapid learning curve. Especially on the point raised by " mothman " that the snake may have been there for a longtime.
Three of my neighbours, who have no young children, are now aware, though I have hesitated further in case I cause panic.
The snake isn't a slow worm as I remember having a few of these as pets as a child. I still cannot get hold of photographs of young melanic adders or young rat snakes. I understand they differ a great deal from adults.
I have sent some information to a London Radio Station and if I hear anything I will post the information.
If an adder strikes, will it be able to penetrate quite strong material, such as, leather gloves or heavy cloth etc?
Three of my neighbours, who have no young children, are now aware, though I have hesitated further in case I cause panic.
The snake isn't a slow worm as I remember having a few of these as pets as a child. I still cannot get hold of photographs of young melanic adders or young rat snakes. I understand they differ a great deal from adults.
I have sent some information to a London Radio Station and if I hear anything I will post the information.
If an adder strikes, will it be able to penetrate quite strong material, such as, leather gloves or heavy cloth etc?
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Farnboro John
Well-known member
noirua said:
A friend of mine had one strike a training shoe and go clean through that, thankfully not reaching the foot within - best not to test it.
John
Edward woodwood
Member
grass snakes can be very dark but have the collar effect Stuart mentioned (look at the attached pic). Can also be pretty chunky.
I see adders on a good % of my visits to Waxham, mostly typical in colour, haven't seen a really dark/black one yet...and over the weekend I almost trod on two.
Grass snakes I encounter much less frequently but saw a nice one yesterday which gave me a good hiss before rocketing off...
i must stop birding in my converse and get some chunky boots on....
Tim
I see adders on a good % of my visits to Waxham, mostly typical in colour, haven't seen a really dark/black one yet...and over the weekend I almost trod on two.
Grass snakes I encounter much less frequently but saw a nice one yesterday which gave me a good hiss before rocketing off...
i must stop birding in my converse and get some chunky boots on....
Tim
