Is this a grass snake?

[craig1912]

Entirely black which made me wonder. On the same walk I saw this which I know is a baby Grass snake

[saaby93]

Last time I saw one of those black ones it scarpered into a canal

Is this it - scroll down a bit
http://surrey-arg.org.uk/SARGWEB.php?app=SpeciesDa...

Edited by saaby93 on Saturday 3rd July 18:27

[craig1912]

Thanks- I had seen that site and yes it looks like a “Melanistic Grass Snake”

[Equus]

Nope, I reckon that's a melanistic adder (aka a Black Adder, no less).

The relatively shorter, stouter body and the indistinct but still present darker zig-zag markings down its back are the giveaway.

LINK

[saaby93]

Equus said:

Nope, I reckon that's a melanistic adder (aka a Black Adder, no less).

The relatively shorter, stouter body and the indistinct but still present darker zig-zag markings down its back are the giveaway.

LINK

Agreed
see the markings on the chin

Edited by saaby93 on Sunday 4th July 00:44

[so called]

I thought Adder too.

[craig1912]

so called said:

I thought Adder too.

Yep I agree- good job the dog didn’t see it!

[Macroni18]

craig1912 said:

so called said:

I thought Adder too.

Yep I agree- good job the dog didn’t see it!

I thought black adders are venomous?

[dudleybloke]

Macroni18 said:

craig1912 said:

so called said:

I thought Adder too.

Yep I agree- good job the dog didn’t see it!

I thought black adders are venomous?

More sarcastic than venomous.

[saaby93]

Macroni18 said:

craig1912 said:

so called said:

I thought Adder too.

Yep I agree- good job the dog didn’t see it!

I thought black adders are venomous?

Think thats what he meant
Adder= 1 Dog =0

[saaby93]

dudleybloke said:

More sarcastic than venomous.

irony

[rallye101]

All adders are, bad for a small \medium dog!

[Macroni18]

saaby93 said:

Think thats what he meant
Adder= 1 Dog =0

Ah ok, thanks.

[craig1912]

saaby93 said:

Think thats what he meant
Adder= 1 Dog =0

Yep I did!

[anonymous-user]

I haven’t seen any snakes in the U.K. for ages. I thought I saw one recently but it was small and pale grey so more likely a slow worm?

I quite like enjoying the outdoors devoid of any animals that look remotely menacing.

Having said that I read about a swimmer that got his ankle nippled or clawed by a seal the other day, plus there’s that travelling seal terrorising a marina on another thread.

[saaby93]

craig1912 said:

saaby93 said:

Think thats what he meant
Adder= 1 Dog =0

Yep I did!

Not sure I'd have been very close with a camera either!
A few years back there was a spate of dog deaths and vets tried to save some with the human adder vaccine.
Adrenaline seemed more succesful but things may have improved