RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by stuart:

Hi, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to post replies.

When I first recovered the snake, I thought it might be a garter of some description,however it appeared too stocky compared to all the examples I had seen,and it appeared too dull. However Alex2 s suggestion would appear to be the most likely-it did have faded red scales on its side and it did have a bright red and black tongue.

It was found in late March amongst an adder colony just out of hibernation.

Thanks again

" 

Sorry about the poor quality image but it was taken on a phone camera. I've never seen this before,has anyone else? 

[QUOTE=Matt Harris]I've seen both, frogs on toads and toads on frogs, but if it gets you a lift to the pond, who cares what species it is![/QUOTE]

Are you married?

Despite its small size I believe it is one of last years young. I have found them like this in and around the previous years breeding heaps many times in the past.

On a site I survey I noticed the gravid females to be about 2-4 weeks behind on an average years breeding (spring was late and cold in the midlands) and I dont believe the breeding cycle could be so advanced for the time of year even in the south of the country

Regards

Stuart

Hi Rob

How specifically are you suggesting grass snake behaviour is altering?

Regards

Stuart

Interesting stuff

However I believe that the assumption that because a snake is the same size in Spring as a neonate that it must of just hatched is misguided.

From my own observations of egg laying/hatching on man made manure based breeding heaps and witnessed breeding/brumation behaviour of adult snakes in captivity then I think it far more likely that these young snakes are from the previous year and that they have just not yet eaten enough to put on significant weight or length.

As regards the above paper the peak in mortality in Spring surely only proves thats when the young snakes are on the move and not when they hatched? 

Regards

Stuart

Hi Rob

Nothing personal but I'm afraid I disagree with your analogy and logic.

"Take a human baby. In order to keep it alive (ie; to prevent starvation), it requires a given amount of calorie / energy / food input, yes? Do you agree?"

-Well of course I agree,however,a comparison between the homeostatic requirements of a human baby and a reptile is in my opinion irrelevant.If I remember correctly approx 80% of a mammals calorific requirements are to maintain body heat alone.Furthermore a human baby has little inherrant energy supply.Reptile neonates often have the remnants of an absobed yolk sac that could be used to sustain the animal through a period of brumation.

"But; if they receive the very minimum sufficient enough to keep them alive, they grow!!"

-I believe this is incorrect-it is possible to acquire enough calories to maintain bodyweight....growth is only possible when there is a surplus to maintain life.

 "A neo Grass Snake that is one year old will never be 158mm or less,"

I believe the post brumation neonates are being found are approx six-eight months not a year old.

"within three hours of hatching the neo Grassies would have dispersed from the incubation site"

Rather a specific time to such a blanket statement that by its very nature has to be incorrect and misleading. I have found brumating neonates at the incubation sites in January. The heat from the composting process is no longer discernible. I think some hatchlings disperse rapidly,some do not.It is this variation in individuals behavior within a species that allows them to survive and exploit new and varying conditions.

And I stand by what I said in my previous post that the peak in mortality on the road only proves that snakes are moving and nothing more.

Sorry for such a long post

Regards

Stuart

Nice looking snake!-looks similar to some of the Spanish forms I've seen.

I think that despite the late cold Spring that the warm sunny period over the last few weeks has given lots of basking opportunities and the females have "caught up" as it were.-For the midlands at least.

I'm finding pre-lay sloughs at the moment locally.

Regards.

Stuart.

Kevin,

if it wasn't from this year, can't really see the point??

R

[/QUOTE]

I can, its a great image and thanks Kevin for posting it