Old 08-23-2012, 13:41   #1
Sdiver
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Snake ID

Gents,
Need some help ID-ing this snake.
It was found in the basement of a friend of mine who lives just south of me in Castle Rock (Between Denver and C. Springs).
She states that the snake was "Hissing and striking" at her this morning after she went downstaris.
I'm trying to get her to get a better picture, but was hoping that someone would be able to ID it with just these markings shown.
My limited knowledge and "google-fu" is showing that it could be a Western Massasauga ....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massasauga

Thanks

SD
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:00   #2
Dusty
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No flippancy directed towards you or your friend, but-who cares as long as it's dead.

I kill snakes before they get a chance to be ID'd.
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:02   #3
Sdiver
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No flippancy directed towards you or your friend, but-who cares as long as it's dead.
Sir Dusty,

I quite agree with you and so does she.
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:02   #4
tonyz
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Some of those markings sure look like shovel or machete to me.
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:18   #5
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Sdiver--

FWIW, the Colorado Herpetological Society, home page here, has a snake identification matrix located there.
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:23   #6
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Quote:
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Sdiver--

FWIW, the Colorado Herpetological Society, home page here, has a snake identification matrix located there.
Good find, but I don't think she wanted to take a good look at its anal scale (or scales) to make an ID at the time.
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:27   #7
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It may be a bull snake? Might be easier if he was not hacked up by a hoe/shovel.
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:31   #8
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Good find, but I don't think she wanted to take a good look at its anal scale (or scales) to make an ID at the time.
Sdiver could talk her into it by pointing out that reptilian patterns are fashionable this season.
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:34   #9
Sdiver
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It may be a bull snake? Might be easier if he was not hacked up by a hoe/shovel.
Thought about that as well, but the color looks a little lighter than the pics here .... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullsnake

I've asked her if she has other pics, but as of now, it's a no-go.
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Old 08-23-2012, 14:38   #10
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A quick look through a few sites and the coloraiton looks most consistent with a bull snake, a hognose snake or a glossy snake.

I'm no herpetologist, though. I stay away form the herpes as much as possible.
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Old 08-23-2012, 15:02   #11
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If it was Africa, I would say it was a juvenile Mole Snake and they way collectors bring exotic species into the States, it still may be. A Mole snakes head had a rounded snout for burrowing and quite small eyes. As it grows older, it becomes a more uniform russet brown, but as with most snakes, there are big geographical differences in coloring and that is why scale, head and fang identification is so important.
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Old 08-23-2012, 15:05   #12
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It's most important to try and identify a snake after you've been bitten by one so that emergency room doctors can decide what type of anti-venom to use.

Never seen one like yours though. Is it missing a rattle?

A few weeks ago I was out in the middle of the desert on a construction site and ran over a Western Diamondback that was easily six feet long. Afterwards I wished I would have taken it home because it would have made a nice skin.
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Old 08-23-2012, 15:05   #13
Dusty
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Yeah, well, it's a good snake, now.
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Old 08-23-2012, 15:13   #14
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It looks like a dead snake......sorry couldn't help myself. I never saw a snake like that there in Colorado. Mostly racers, garters and rattle snakes from what I remember. I have had several experiences with aggressive snakes this time of year out in the West. Once a diamond back came out of the bush to our patio in Avra Valley out side of Tucson and began to rattle ferociously which we all found unusual... we figured maybe a mating behavior as they generally avoid human activity...it was just about this time of year that it happened ....it was tasty with a little butter and garlic and the skin was dried and rubbed with glycerin.
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Old 08-23-2012, 15:24   #15
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Looks like a dead Bull Snake to me.

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