View Full Version : What kind of snake is this?
I saw this snake on top of one of those rock piles in southern NY, and I can't for the life of me figure out what it is. Notice the two black spots behind the head. It also flattened out its neck below its head a little bit in the picture (hard to tell from the angle. It was fairly large.
I looked up snakes of NY and NJ on their respective DNR websites, and it wasn't listed that I could tell.
Can anyone identify it? I can give more details if needed.
http://picasaweb.google.com/max.nemeth/ATWVThroughMA/photo#5226002634483259538
trouthunter
08-16-2008, 16:02
Looks like an Earth snake to me, but hard to tell with a partial pic.
Here is a full picture.
http://picasaweb.google.com/max.nemeth/ATWVThroughMA/photo#5226002560990685826
The snake was big, looked fatter than a normal snake for its length. It was about 2.5 feet long.
Awol2003
08-16-2008, 16:45
Eastern Hog-Nosed snake has that body type and will flatten out its head/neck or play dead when threatened. There's a lot of variety in color; most have a spotted pattern. The one in this picture is black:
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_browseimgs_reptile_com&enlarge=0000+0000+1003+0673 (http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_browseimgs_reptile_com&enlarge=0000+0000+1003+0673)
sheepdog
08-16-2008, 17:23
That is my guess, Hog-nosed snake also known as a puff adder. Sometime they coil up and shake their tail like a rattle snake. If you tap them (lightly)with your hiking stick they will play dead and roll on their backs. If you roll them back on their stomachs they roll right back over as if to say "can't you see I'm dead."
We use this snake, to snake proof dogs. Get a hog-nosed snake aggitated so he coils and strikes. Put an electronic training collar on your dog and lead him up to the snake when the snake strikes at the dog, give the dog some stimulation. About twice for most dogs and they give all snakes a wide birth.
That sounds like it, the large color variation threw me. thanks
trouthunter
08-16-2008, 21:58
Yeah, Hog nose, never saw one that light in color before though. Most of the ones we have here are very dark in color, and patterned.
sbennett
08-17-2008, 00:21
i still think it might be a copper-headed water rattler, but probably just wishful thinking....
trouthunter
08-17-2008, 00:40
We have those on Lake Moultrie here in SC
We also have catfish the size of Mini Coopers at the bottom of the dam according to the divers.
sbennett
08-17-2008, 00:47
see I always ran into them up around Jocassee and Keowee...nice to know you lowcountry folks faced the danger as well
trouthunter
08-17-2008, 01:06
Were not skeered down here. At least not till we fall out of the boat!
Strategic
08-17-2008, 11:14
We have those on Lake Moultrie here in SC
We also have catfish the size of Mini Coopers at the bottom of the dam according to the divers.
What those divers are seeing in Lake Moultrie is probably introduced Blue catfish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_catfish), something an old Memphis boy like me is all too familiar with. These things are huge for freshwater fish, in the 100-150 lbs. range. I kind of doubt the Mini Cooper size, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were bigger than the divers.
sasquatch2014
08-17-2008, 11:39
Just south of where the trail crosses the Hudson on the Bear Mt Bridge the river really widens out. You can see it well from the West Mt Shelter. Down in that area they catch huge stripped bass. Some of these are over 300 lbs and have up to 9 eyes, well at least the ones by the Indian Point nuclear power plant that tends to leak. But they say it's just a small leak. :D
calculating infinity
02-02-2009, 18:07
That is my guess, Hog-nosed snake also known as a puff adder. Sometime they coil up and shake their tail like a rattle snake. If you tap them (lightly)with your hiking stick they will play dead and roll on their backs. If you roll them back on their stomachs they roll right back over as if to say "can't you see I'm dead."
We use this snake, to snake proof dogs. Get a hog-nosed snake aggitated so he coils and strikes. Put an electronic training collar on your dog and lead him up to the snake when the snake strikes at the dog, give the dog some stimulation. About twice for most dogs and they give all snakes a wide birth.
puff adders are actually a species of viper, they are found in africa.
it could be a hog nose
It's not a Spread Adder or a Hog Nosed snade which are one in the same, I think. It appears to be a harmless Gray Rat snake, which is good one to have around. In fact all snakes are good to have around.
Happy hiking. :sun
Tennessee Viking
02-02-2009, 18:58
I going for a Gray Racer or Rat Snake.
brian2o0o
04-14-2009, 06:44
Its on land... its a rattlesnake lol
papa john
04-14-2009, 07:25
It's longer than it is wide, stay away from it....
Unusual color, but the upturned snout indicates a Hognose. Harmless, but full of tricks.
Rain Man
04-14-2009, 10:19
Its on land... its a rattlesnake lol
Ahhhh ... another victim of "Hollywood." LOL
In fact all snakes are good to have around.
You got that right!
Rain:sunMan
.
leeki pole
04-14-2009, 10:35
Snakes are good. What with my King snake in the barn and three hunter-killer cats who bring me offerings of vermin most every day, we do not have a mouse nor a snake problem. I'm thinking of carrying one or all when I hike.
Eastern Hog Nose. Nice pic.