Pictures of Sammy and questions

[prattypus]

Oh, one last question (for tonight). How do I figure her age? I'll have to measure her tomorrow, but I think she's about 20 inches long.

You have to cut her in half and count the rings. JUST KIDDING, please don't!! I heard that from my biology teacher in the ninth grade. He didn't have a straight answer to give either.

[Stefan-A]

You have to cut her in half and count the rings. JUST KIDDING, please don't!! I heard that from my biology teacher in the ninth grade. He didn't have a straight answer to give either.

That's exactly how you do it, if you want an accurate age.

[k2l3d4]

That's exactly how you do it, if you want an accurate age.

Really? Pray tell, explain please.

[Stefan-A]

Really? Pray tell, explain please.

It's called skeletochronology, the reading of growth layers in bones.

There's an article on the subject, Determining the age of garter snakes
(Thamnophis spp.) by means of skeletochronology (Heather L. Waye and Patrick T. Gregory).

[k2l3d4]

Well that is just a messed up way to age a snake..... just like a tree.

[drache]

that is one of the draw-backs with science - often the subjects end up dead sooner than they would have, had they not met the scientist

[Stefan-A]

that is one of the draw-backs with science - often the subjects end up dead sooner than they would have, had they not met the scientist

Depends on how you look at it. The data collected may save entire species.

[jitami]

Just wanted to say that Sammy is a gorgeous snake. Looks quite pampered, too. I love it. Great job Mom!

btw, the neighborhood boys brought home our first garter and now I have 4

[ssssnakeluvr]

there's no way to tell a snake's age unless you raise it from birth....


skeletochronology....that's funny!!

[Sid]

I have to agree aboout the age, no way other than scientifically to know for certain. I would guess that at 20" she would more than likely be an '07 birth, but that is only a guess. Great looking girl by the way.