Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

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Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Michael Wilms » Thu May 28, 2015 5:21 pm

I have a small quiz for you:

What would you say on the first view which snake this is? :?:

IMG_1672_Zuschnitt.JPG


And what would you think, where it was found?

I took this pic with a 300mm telephoto lens from a few meters away and Alex Pieh, who was with me, and myself were first aback for some seconds, what it is.. ;)
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Kevin Esser » Thu May 28, 2015 5:30 pm

Natrix tessellata for sure.
Maybe at Lake Vrana?

I have to add: it is an unusual and beautiful specimen. :-)
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Berislav Horvatic » Thu May 28, 2015 7:23 pm

What would you say on the first view which snake this is? :?:

A Natrix tessellata (just look at the eyes!), of course, if that was the principal question...

And what would you think, where it was found?

Just tell me WHEN, then i'll try to guess WHERE. If it was today or yesterday, then it might
have been somewhere at the source of the river Zrmanja... or somewhat downstream? Or
at the well next to the big pond 2 km south of Otrić? Who are you fooling with?
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Michael Wilms » Thu May 28, 2015 8:09 pm

Yeah, it is for sure a Natrix tesselata!

But I never saw a specimen with such a maculation and such coloration!
We indeed first had a second look until we were sure! ;)

Maybe at Lake Vrana?


You're right, Kevin! It was today around 13:30 at Lake Vrana.

IMG_1825.JPG
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Michael Wilms » Thu May 28, 2015 8:13 pm

Have you or anybody here seen this maculation/coloration before?
We both (Alex and me) never saw it before!

IMG_1805.JPG
IMG_1739.JPG
IMG_1765.JPG
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Berislav Horvatic » Thu May 28, 2015 8:15 pm

You're right, Kevin! It was today around 13:30 at Lake Vrana.

Damn it! I thought you both went to "Mt. X" and just, along the way... Yes, do go to the source of Zrmanja.

But I never saw a specimen with such a maculation and such coloration! We indeed first had a second look
until we were sure! ;)

Never mind the maculation/coloration. Next time just look at the EYES. No other snake has eyes like that.
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Michael Wilms » Thu May 28, 2015 8:36 pm

Never mind the maculation/coloration. Next time just look at the EYES. No other snake has eyes like that.


That's right, Bero! First from distance we could not really see the eyes. When we saw the eyes, it was easy.. :D
But nevertheless we were wondering.. ;)



I thought you both went to "Mt. X"


Today was still bora wind and you said tomorrow it is over and a good day! So tomorrow is day X on Mt. X for us.. :D ;)
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Berislav Horvatic » Thu May 28, 2015 9:08 pm

Today was still bora wind and you said tomorrow it is over and a good day! So tomorrow is day X on Mt. X for us.. :D ;)

Tomorrow it SHOULD cease, and it could actually be the day D (hopefully not "X"...!) on "Mt. X". So, just do it!
No more A. fragilis, L. viridis, and such "small peas"... find a dozen of V. ursinii & a few V. ammodytes to top
it all... Fingers crossed! Hals- und Beinbruch!
And yes, of course, take Alex Pieh with you, if he wants to, he's certainly been "cleared" for "Mt. X"...! (No
matter how too presumptuous this might sound to some others in this forum, but we still try to keep "Mt. X"
"as reasonably secret as possible" from those who are not welcome.) Well, Alex Pieh is most welcome, so, it's
not your responsibility any more, you have my "blessing" (whatever it's worth) ...
(Of course both of you should first consult us (the "locals") before giving it further... That's a gentlemen's deal.)
BTW, Ljiljana Tomović asked me quite a few yers ago (jokingly, of course) whether a "gentlemen's deal" like
that could/should include/apply to ladies as well... The answer, of course, was a strong and definite YES.

BTW, I suggest the celebration of your success at "King Zvonimir" in Gračac, but this time not with a pizza, take
the "mixed meat plate" or something serious like that, you won't regret it (even if you would have not deserved
it in the field... Als Trost, wenigstens.)
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Mario Schweiger » Fri May 29, 2015 6:55 am

This is a typical "Tropidonotus tessellatus var. flavencens" Werner, 1891 from surroundings of Zadar (no exact location given, but probably lake Vrana), where this morph occurs. But I have to admit, this is a very contrasty painted specimen.

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Please visit also my personal Herp-site vipersgarden.at
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Re: Small Quiz for you: which snake is this?

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Fri May 29, 2015 7:32 am

Never seen anything like it, cool!
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