A new visitor

[wadih]

Today on my way out, I saw two persons following something on the road. I went to check and saw a small snake on ground, it looked so tiny and fragile. They insisted on killing it saying that is venomous. However, I stopped them and took it. I put it in a small aquarium with a log and small bowl of water. Later on, and after it felt a bit safe, it started to move.

Its movement did look more like a python rather than a garter and its pattern looks so identified and clear like a rattle snake; however, I thought I am not the right person to decide what type is it. Any way and before I decide on keeping it or sending it out, I decided to take some pictures and post it. I am sure a lot of you can identify it better than me.

N.B. I know most of you are thinking about stefan the best to identify it; however I am not saying that cause I know the answer "Yeah, cut that out. I'm no authority" just joking... Any help would be highly appreciated.

[Stefan-A]

It's not a garter (no garters in the Old World), but it is a colubrid. It seems to put on a decent viper imitation, too. I assume the location is Lebanon?

[Stefan-A]

My best guess at the moment is Hemorrhois nummifer, Coin-marked snake.

[wadih]

thanks a lot stefan for the fast answer, and yes the location is Lebanon....

Do you think it is a good idea to keep it (at least till spring) or not? and what do you think a good food for it would be...

Thanks again for your help

[guidofatherof5]

Great save. Nice to know that sort of thing is happening all over the world. Someone needs to look out for them. Venomous or not, relocation is better than just killing them.
Keep up the good work and be careful.
I'm lucky, in that the area I live in has no venomous snake, so grabbing them is never a big deal.

I'm very curious as to its identification.

[Stefan-A]

No problem, I like a challenge. But I have to say, you took a great risk. It is a viper mimic and it seems to mimic the Palestine viper, Daboia (Vipera) palaestinae, which is very venomous. The pupils give it away as a colubrid, but still.

My book says it feeds on small mammals, lizards and small birds.


By the way: Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe is a great place to find pictures for identifying reptiles and amphibians encountered in Europe and the surrounding region.

edit2: The generic name of the species it mimics, Daboia, should ring a bell to people who know a little about venomous snakes. It means it's closely related to the Russell's Viper.

[guidofatherof5]

Here's a link to the snake Stefan identified.
TrekNature | Hemorrhois nummifer (Coin Snake) Photo

[wadih]

I just checked some Hemorrhois nummifer pics on the net, I guess you are right it is so similar to the snake I have here. In fact the first thing I noticed about is the way it hanged on the log. Although I did not take a pic of that but I just attached to message a picture from the net showing the way it was hanging from the log. It stayed like that for an hour or so inspecting the aquarium and deciding where to go.

Thanks Steve hopefully I will be able to feed it or at least keep it alive....

[guidofatherof5]

How about some more pics?

[wadih]

I guess we reached our target... It is a Palestine viper, the image on the net (although shows adults) is very similar to the baby I got. I guess the people were right it is venomous after all.
Thanks a lot stefan, you always have the right guess...

Hmmm the question now is what to do with it!!! I not only woundering if it is safe to keep or not but also what to do with it after that.....