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RAUK - Archived Forum - Snake spotted in Lanzarote

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Snake spotted in Lanzarote:

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Ross
Member
Joined: 26 Dec 2004
No. of posts: 25


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Posted: 27 Dec 2004
Firstly, I was under the opinion that no snakes were indigenous to Lanzarote. So imagine my surprise when I came across gorgeous 1 metre speciman. To me it looked like a Horseshoe Whip Snake (Hemorrhois hippocrepis) it had yellow and black colouration. It had circle-like markings along its back. Any ideas what else it could be? I know that the Horseshoe lives in Portugal, could it have swam or stowed away on a boat?  
herpetologic2
Senior Member
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
No. of posts: 1369


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Posted: 05 Jan 2005

 

Errr

kept as a pet and then escaped?

 

J


Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant -
visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


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Posted: 28 Jan 2006
maybe corn snake, but I'll look into snakes on Lanzarotte,

otherwise check with the pet shops... see what they sell...
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Dan Kane
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
No. of posts: 201


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Posted: 29 Jan 2006

There are no Snakes indigenous to any of the Canary Islands.

The snake you saw was most likely either someone's pet, which escaped, or it escaped from a pet shop.

It may have stowed away on some floating junk, or maybe a boat, in which case it might have been some kind of N.W. African species, or it may have been someone's pet there.

Do you remember what shape it was; shape of head, thickness of body...


Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


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Posted: 29 Jan 2006
so there are no snakes in the canaries... that's dissapointing as my family
wanted to visit there, but are you sure because until now I only knew of
Ireland, greenland... and other cold places being the only snake free
zones...
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Dan Kane
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
No. of posts: 201


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Posted: 29 Jan 2006

No, sorry, but i'm sure there aren't and naturally present snakes there

The reptiles that I know of in the Canaries are:

East Canary Gecko

Gran Canaria Gecko

Tenerife Gecko

La Gomera Gecko

The Gallotia Lizards

Gran Canaria Skink

Eastern Canary Skink

West Canary Skink

Which Island(s) were/are you planning to visit?

Dan Kane38747.5318055556
Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


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Posted: 30 Jan 2006
I think either Gran Caneria or Lanzerotte (sorry for the spelling on that)!
But I was searching for snakes from over there, I seemed to think there
were sand vipers.
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Dan Kane
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Joined: 30 Dec 2005
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Posted: 31 Jan 2006

There are Puff Aders, Desert Horned Vipers and Horned Adders on the nearest part of Morocco to them...

Also an isolated population of Egyptian Cobras...


Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
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Posted: 31 Jan 2006
yes but none on the caneries???
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Dan Kane
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
No. of posts: 201


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Posted: 31 Jan 2006
Nope, it says in one of the herp books I have, on the Gallotia page "in the absence of snakes, these lizards have few natural enemies".  Dan Kane38811.7043518519
Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
djp_phillips
Senior Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 180


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Posted: 31 Jan 2006
ah ok, shame that there are no snakes, I'll try to get the family to go
somewhere else then
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- Snake spotted in Lanzarote

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