To ask a question about a snake, don't reply to this post, go to the forum home page and start a new post. Your question will get a lot more exposure. Please give us an idea of where you live, as reptiles can often be identified only by locality!

Please do not place messages about killing a snake, and asking what kind it is you have killed! That is like going onto a message board about dogs and telling about torturing one to death, and asking what kind of breed it was. You will likely get "flamed", and likely by the forum owner, depending on his mood that day.

A note about head shape in snakes: Head shape is a totally useless character for identifying a snake, and has nothing to do with whether the serpent is or is not venomous (poisonous). Many harmless snakes, especially when young, have rather large heads. Please describe color, pattern, markings, and habitat where the snake was found. The shape of the head will not help us in any way. Thank you.

Re: Identify snake

Posted by Jim on July 27, 2005, 7:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Identify snake"
24.158.83.239

Thanks for the reply. The snake was thick bodied, but not in the usual way. Its was much "taller" than usual. It's back came up to a very distinct ridge, much like a fishs back. I am guessing it was about 2 and 1/2 inches tall from the ground to the top of the back. It looked to be about an inch to an inch and 1/2 thick in width. I think you are right about the s curves. I have looked at many pictures of Eastern Diamondbacks and Hog Nosed Snakes and they are not like the snake I saw. The back and the markings are the biggest differences. The markings are much sharper on the one I saw. Thanks again. jim --Previous Message-- : There aren't any eastern snakes that move : like a sidewinder but there are some : eastern snakes that will move with : looping s curves which I could envision : as being described as sidewinder-like : if you're comparing it to a snake that : moves in a straight line. : : It's a little hard for me to picture : exactly what the snake looked like even : though your description is excellent in : trying to give as much detail as : possible. : : Would you consider the snake to have : been relatively thick-bodied or : somewhat thin-bodied? : : If it was thick bodied, the color and : pattern descriptions have me thinking : Timber Rattlesnake and Eastern Hognose : Snake are two possibilities. : : --Previous Message-- : I saw a snake recently,around June : 15th, : just north of Paden City,WV along the : Ohio river. It was crossing WV route : 2. The snake was unusual in several : ways. It was about 3 feet long, but : that is an estimate. Its means of : locomotion resembled that of : sidewinders. It was marked with very : distinctive diamond markings and its : colors were overall very light with : some golds, tans, light browns, and a : little black. Most unusual to me was : its shape. Its back came up into a very : sharp ridge. The belly looked round, : but that was the only part. I would : estimate the total heigth of the snake : to be 2.5 inches, while the width was : about 1 inch or a little more. Thanks : for your help. jim : : :

---

Message Thread: Identify snake - Jim Bennett July 22, 2005, 12:11 am Re: Identify snake - Wayne July 22, 2005, 10:47 am Re: Identify snake - Jim July 27, 2005, 7:58 pm « Back to thread

---

Reply

The Appalachian Naturalist