Any Ideas??? We're lost...

South African snakes commonly known as non-venomous, including the Natal rock python (Python natalensis).

View Gallery

Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby Adznsteff » Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:30 pm

Found this little guy under a pile of debris being cleaned up, and saved him from the spade of the garden boy. We live close to howick, KZN midlands.

We think he is a slug eater, but could be wrong.

Please reply with more info...

Many Thanks


Adz n Steff
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Adznsteff
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:11 pm

Re: Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby Westley Price » Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:24 pm

Sjoe, difficult to tell from the pics, but the head shape points to one of the Slug Eaters, either the Common Slug Eater or the Variegated Slug Eater.

However, the pale colour from the belly coming so high up the sides puts me off this ID.

But I would be pretty confident saying it's one of the Duberia species.
"I am dying by inches from not having anybody to talk to about insects." - Charles Darwin
User avatar
Westley Price
Forum gatekeeper
 
Posts: 4019
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:25 am
Location: South Africa

Re: Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby kfc223 » Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:39 pm

This is a bit of a tough one.

I am going to put my money on a Duberria lutrix with strange colour coming from the sides(might even be caused by poor lighting). Just check out the line/band in this photo.

Image

PS: Try not to pick up snakes you can't ID, it could have been a Stiletto and that would have been a rather unpleasant experiance.
User avatar
kfc223
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 833
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:30 pm
Location: Cape Town, Western Cape

Re: Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby Adznsteff » Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:52 pm

can post clearer pic, had the reference book out. have handled him, non aggressive. found that he likes to burrow under soil or leaves. he even buried himself 1cm below soil surface. basically, hes brown on top, has darker band running down his sides, and a white belly reaching his jawline.
Adznsteff
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:11 pm

Re: Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby Westley Price » Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:34 pm

Okay, here's the definitive question....

How did you hands smell after handling him? Haha ;)

Slug Eaters have the tendency to musk (make stink) on you if handled.

And they also tend to curl up in a spiral shape sometimes.

Put him in a a Tupperware tub and try a full-body photograph.
"I am dying by inches from not having anybody to talk to about insects." - Charles Darwin
User avatar
Westley Price
Forum gatekeeper
 
Posts: 4019
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:25 am
Location: South Africa

Re: Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby Adznsteff » Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:40 pm

can i email you the photos? and no haha my hands didnt smell funny
Adznsteff
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:11 pm

Re: Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby Westley Price » Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:42 pm

If you can, please post them for all to see.

The reason I'm asking is so that future guys wondering about an ID can check your pics.
"I am dying by inches from not having anybody to talk to about insects." - Charles Darwin
User avatar
Westley Price
Forum gatekeeper
 
Posts: 4019
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:25 am
Location: South Africa

Re: Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby Chameleon Company » Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:06 pm

Duberria lutrix
2:2 Pseudaspis cana
1:2 Dasypeltis scabra

And yes they are all on permit.
Chameleon Company
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 240
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:28 am
Location: West Rand

Re: Any Ideas??? We're lost...

Postby Fooble » Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:56 am

That's definitely a Slug Eater ZERO doubts.
Organized crime comes in more forms than one.
User avatar
Fooble
Forum gatekeeper
 
Posts: 5319
Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:32 am
Location: Umhlanga, Durban - KZN


Return to Indigenous fangless snakes

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests

cron