Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Peter Parrot]

A Doctor from the Conservation Ecology Research Team based at my local University is planning on undertaking an in depth study of the diving behaviour of Grass snakes. Apparently a very small piece of apparatus is fixed on the nape areas of a few decent sized females (male`s tend to be too small to fit the apparatus) which are then re-released back into their environment. Upon recapture, all manner of information is recorded on the apparatus such as the number of times the animal has been submerged, how long for, how often etc.

A month ago I was asked to identify a safe and viable site at which to conduct the study. I have since been busy whenever possible walking a few likely sites whenever the weather has been favourable and am pleased to say that I now have four seperate locations walked which hold grass snake populations. Here are a few amateurish snaps from Wednesday`s stroll,
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YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

[Peter Parrot]

Two snaps of a good sized female grass snake also.


The last picture shows an immature (last year`s) viviparous lizard on the hand. Long ago I learnt that it is unwise to capture animals of this size as they are all too ready to "throw" their tales off, thereby using one of their escape life lines. Older animals very rarely do so but rather will lash their tails from side to side hoping to divert your attention to the tail when if you were daft enough to grab it, the lizard would then shed it and make it`s get away. The older animals don`t just "throw" the tail as a youngster will do however. The reason that I am waffling on about this is that you will see in the picture below an animal of precisely the size that I avoid capturing.

On this occassion however, I was able to very slowly crouch down by the animal, taking care not to shade the lizard from the sun with my shadow. I then gently and very slowly placed my left hand at the same level as, and just ahead of, the young lizard. So far so good, so I slowly positioned my right hand so that the lizard was shaded. Within three seconds, the lizard flicked it`s tongue a few times, then edged forward on to my left hand on it`s own accord and hence into the sun. It appeared quite happy on my warm hand in the sun and promptly flattened it`s ribs out and began basking as you can see in the picture. I then stood up slowly with the lizard basking quite happily on my arm.
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YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

[Peter Parrot]

That same day I also spotted an adult male melanistic viviparous lizard so caught him up for a closer look. Out of many hundreds of individuals that I have seen at his particular site, this is the first melanistic animal that I have seen among them. He was particularly feisty and although you can`t really make it out in the snaps, the inside of his mouth was a beautiful deep purple colour.
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YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

[herp_boi]

Nice work pete.
Lovely grass snakes.
Nice lizard too!
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2.1 Heterodon Nasicus
1.1 Eryx colubrinus
1.1 Elaphe obsoleta linheimeri leucistic
1.1 Varanus acanthurus
0.1 Python Regius
0.0.10 varanus acanthurus eggs.
0.0.31 Heterodon nasicus eggs.
http://www.freewebs.com/njbherps/index.htm

[Peter Parrot]

Thanks Nick.

Here are dorsal and ventral snaps of the melanistic viviparous lizard. It is just possible to make out slight orange and black dappling on the belly shot so the animal is not entirely melanistic.
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YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

[kroakykaren]

Great stuff Pete and excellent post, thankyou for sharing
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[Peter Parrot]

Male (left) and female (right) viviparous lizards from the same site compared.
_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

[herp_boi]

Nice.
I guess the melanistic is a male?
Have a look at my thread mate. I went out today
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2.1 Heterodon Nasicus
1.1 Eryx colubrinus
1.1 Elaphe obsoleta linheimeri leucistic
1.1 Varanus acanthurus
0.1 Python Regius
0.0.10 varanus acanthurus eggs.
0.0.31 Heterodon nasicus eggs.
http://www.freewebs.com/njbherps/index.htm

[Peter Parrot]

[Peter Parrot]