Snake identification please

ANNO · #11 (**permalink**) 30-08-2009, 11:29 AM

I am a regular on this site - someone here will tell you straight away;

Reptile Forums UK - Care, Pictures, Classifieds & More

good photos too!!

Herpvet · #12 (**permalink**) 31-08-2009, 05:07 AM

Hi,

From the pictures, almost certainly a bull/pine/gopher snake - try looking at pictures of these online. It will therefore be an escapee or dumped - if you can see it there reasonably regularly, may be worth contacting the RSPCA or a local experienced herpetologist so they can try to catch it, and rehome it.

Hope this helps,

Bruce.

richyh257 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 02:58 PM

i have 4 pet rat snakes
and im pretty sure this isnt one
its head and body are just too short and fat to be honest haha
o and yehh also too wide to be a corn
id say its probably a bull snake really
quite a few people do keep them but not as many as corns
its markings too are like that of a bull snake but you do get colour morphs of most captive animals
nice looking snake though
and good pictures

Gaston · #14 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 01:59 PM

Thanks for all your suggestions. The experts at reptile forum uk have identified it as a Northern Pine Snake. Looking at other photos of this species on the net, I'm pretty sure they are right. Natural habitat is SE USA, but they are apparently found as far north as New Jersey so this one might be able to survive a Britsh winter.

The Woodman · #15 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 03:23 PM

Glad you've identified your find. I looked at Wiki's entry and was amused by the last sentence ...

"When disturbed, it will of hiss loudly, sometimes flattening its head, vibrate its tail and eventually strike at an intruder.[4] Some species will use 'Cloacal Popping' as a defense mechanism. To make the sound, the snakes contract their cloacal sphincter, forcing air (and any other material that happens to be there) out. It is an extremely foul smell that sometimes scares away predators. [8] They also dance like hippies."

!!!