Snakes In France

[jourdain2]

I know the venemous little 'aspics' (grey), but today found a muddy-brown, quite chubby snake about 18 inches long in my veg. patch. (Vienne, France) The dog was barking at it, and very hesitant, and the snake was weaving its head about to match the dog's movements. The snake had small diamond-shapes in a regular pattern all over its body. Anyone know what it is, please? It disappeared once dog was sent indoors, but I have small grandchildren and would like to know if it is safe. If it is a slow-worm then my frogs are at risk of course!

[Milvus]

Have a check here
http://www.planetepassion.eu/snakes-in-france/Snakes-of-France.html

[tigerlelly]

The snake we saw last year when on holiday in Brittany isn't on the list. It was very thin, about a foot long, black with a white collar and was just heading towards the water on the banks of the River Blavet. I have searched venomous and non-venomous with no success so if anyone has any idea I'd be grateful.

[jourdain2]

My snake isn't on the list either! Thanks, both of you. Hope someone knows the exact answer

[Milvus]

Possible slow worm then. They grow to 18 inches or so.
Try this http://www.planetepassion.eu/LIZARDS-IN-FRANCE/Slow-worm-France.html

[Chipchopper]

Tigerlelly, Your snake sounds like a grass snake to me.
I've seen some dark, almost black forms, where the white collar looks very distinctive.

[jourdain2]

Thanks. Still a bit of a mystery.

[Milvus]

I think you are right Chipchopper
http://s286.photobucket.com/user/aSnakeLovinBabe/media/Snakes/Garters/7546205.jpg.html
European grassnake

[Chipchopper]

I checked my field guide, joudain2 and the snake that you describe could be a 'Sand Boa'

[tigerlelly]

Hi Chipchopper, You could be right. This snake was pencil thin so probably a juvenile. Thanks

[jourdain2]

Thanks so much everyone, I'll check out a Sand Boa, Chipchopper. Never heard of them before. If I can find a picture I'll let you kinow.

[jourdain2]

Hi Chipchopper. I've found some images for sand boas and nothing quite matches. The nearest is the Spotted Sand Boa (jaculus) not tataricius, the background is far too lght-coloured and the diamond patterning has big splodgy ones on the back. The one I saw was really quite a dull, darkish-muddy background (hard to see against the soil) and the little, darker (almost black) diamond shapes were neat and regular all over its body, including the back, where they were a bit bigger. Besides, habitat given is Mediterranean & I'm not far from Poitiers! Learning a lot about an unknown topic here, all very interesting.

[heathfield]

Snakes can be quite variable when it comes to colouring. I remember seeing big grass snakes in Cyprus that were anything from black, through brown, to yellow.

[jourdain2]

Thank you Heathfield. I think I'll have to accept that mine is a sand boa (the heads look very similar). Glad it's nothing venemous that has moved up country due to global warming!