Oh wow!! I found a snake!! Identify????

[Lori P]

So here is a very cute little snake I just came across in my front yard!! He was under a water tub. He was very docile, let me take pics before I put him back under the tub. What is he??? He had beautiful irridescent scales and a pink belly.

And I must admit, I was actually tempted to keep him-- me, little miss don't keep wild caught animals... lol!!!! But he was fat and happy and obviously having a fine life on his own, so I let him go. :-)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Wild_snake_10_7_07_4.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Wild_snake_10_7_07_6.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Wild_snake_10_7_07_2.jpg

[adamanteus]

Tantilla gracilis...Flat-headed snake.:)

[Lori P]

Hey COOL! HOW do you know these things??!!! I'm reading on them now... haven't found anything yet that says they are common to Virginia, most things so far say they are found in the south west.

I learned that was a full grown snake! He was so tiny!

Thanks a lot James, how fun!!!!! :-)

[Sid]

James, this one I have to disagree with you on. I'd have to say Eastern Worm snake Carphophis amoenue amoenus. I find tons of them here in South Carolina.

Lori, the one you found is an adult and a lerge one at that. Never had one show any aggresion (like it would matter).

[Lori P]

Sid-- you're right-- they are found in our area, whereas the others were never mentioned in the east. And no, he was not at all aggressive.

THANKS!!! Too cool!!!!

[Sid]

Lori, here a link to Virginia snakes. Thought you ming find useful.
Snakes of Virginia (http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/snakes_of_virginia.htm)

[Lulu Bennett]

awwww cute snake. congrats on your find lori xxx

[ssssnakeluvr]

that's too big for a flat headed snake.....eastern worm snake is probably what it is... I have caught flat headed snakes in Kansas....very small....caught a juvenile that was about 3 inches long....

[drache]

how sweet, Lori
just to make you feel better:
even if you weren't already inclined to leave this snake in the wild - it's not that easy to keep
and if you did, you'd likely not see it very often - they are burrowers

[adamanteus]

Carphophis it is! I stand corrected, thanks Sid.:o

[Sid]

Carphophis it is! I stand corrected, thanks Sid.:o

Any time. James. It's rare to get a chance to correct you:D

[Lori P]

Thanks everyone!! He really was a cute little guy. I found myself looking for him this morning but no doubt he had burrowed back down to wherever he came from.

Sid, THANK YOU for the "snakes of VA" link!!!!!

:-)