Snake ID Please

mudcow007 · #1 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 02:19 PM

Hello one and all

i caught this snake recently (yesterday!) whilst on a walk in Dorset. it was very docile after laying it onto its back for a few seconds (i use to catch eels, same thing applies!)

any ideas anyone?

NJP87 · #2 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 02:27 PM

Hi and welcome Mudcow.

What you have is a slowworm, it's acutally a legless lizard and not a snake (i thought they were snakes untill recently), have a look here for some more info Slow Worm | Wild About Britain

demicav · #3 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 03:30 PM

Yes a Slow worm, a legless lizard. A nice find.

Tracey.A · #4 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 07:42 PM

I think you are so lucky to have seen this slowworm. I have never seen one, but hopefully one day

Welcome to WAB by the way

Tracey

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 15-09-2009, 07:49 PM

Yes a slow worm.

HOWEVER!!!! Please be careful picking up snakes especially if you dont know what they are. Adders are venomous and will bite if handled.

mudcow007 · #6 (**permalink**) 16-09-2009, 09:40 AM

thanks all for the friendly welcome

i was in a place in Dorset called Blandford Forum, to be honest...we found 3 slow worms! the place must be riddled with them

this one i picked up seems pretty calm, its my first one yay!

i also found a large cricket/ grasshopper which i will post pics in another thread

many thanks all!!

JackintheGreen · #7 (**permalink**) 16-09-2009, 10:41 PM

To be honest, it doesn't look too healthy to me. Very static and its eyes are closed. Could it have been injured? Was it laying in the open?

ViperaBerus · #8 (**permalink**) 17-09-2009, 07:37 PM

The spinal structure, dead eyes and the fact that the tail has been one third diconnected from the body in that picture suggests being hit with a stick at least three times

I'd personally say that that Agilis is 100% dead!!

Killing Slow Worms or any British reptile is a criminal offence.

demicav · #9 (**permalink**) 17-09-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViperaBerus

The spinal structure, dead eyes and the fact that the tail has been one third diconnected from the body in that picture suggests being hit with a stick at least three times

I'd personally say that that Agilis is 100% dead!!

That's awful. Maybe the person responsible doesn't like Snakes, thought it was one and decided to kill it. Either way, Snake or Slow worm it's a terrible act of cruelty on a defenceless creature. If of course that's what happened but you're right it certainly looks that way.

ViperaBerus · #10 (**permalink**) 17-09-2009, 07:59 PM

Unfortunately I've spent alot of time examining the bodies of reptiles that have been run over, mauled, squashed or beaten. The signs are unmistakable