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Ssssnake...
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Natrix
Species: N. natrix
The Grass Snake, sometimes called the Ringed Snake or Water Snake (Natrix natrix) is a European non-venomous snake.
The Grass Snake is typically dark green or brown in colour with a characteristic yellow collar behind the head, which explains the alternative name ringed snake. The colour may also range from grey to black. The underside is lighter in colour. In Great Britain the Grass Snake is the largest reptile reaching up to 120cm total length.
They prey almost entirely on amphibians, especially the common frog, although they also occasionally eat mammals and fish. Grass Snakes are strong swimmers and are usually found close to fresh water.
Grass Snakes hibernate over the winter and mate soon after they emerge in the spring during April or May. The leathery skinned eggs are laid in batches of 8-40 in June to July and hatch after about 10 weeks. As eggs require a temperature of at least 21° C to hatch, rotting vegetation, including compost heaps are preferred locations. The young are about 18cm long when they hatch and are immediately independent.
Not being venomous, their only defenses are to produce a foul-smelling fluid from the anal glands and/or feigning death by becoming completely limp. Sometimes, they will also perform fake attacks, striking without actually opening their mouths. They bite in defense rarely.
This snake is found in lowland areas of England and Wales but is almost absent from Scotland and not found in Ireland, nor is any other snake. It has a wide distribution in continental Europe, from southern Scandinavia to southern Italy. It is also found in north-western Africa. British Grass Snakes belong to the subspecies N. n. helvetica, but experts differ on the number of subspecies.
On august 28, 2007, the new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) [launched in 1997] identified 1,149 species and 65 habitats in the UK that need conservation and greater protection. The updated list include hedgehog, house sparrows, grass snake and the garden tiger moth; otters, bottlenose dolphins and red squirrels remained in need of habitat protection.
Two of the subspecies are considered critically endangered: N. n. cetti (Sardinian Grass Snake) and N. n. schweizeri. |
fartash, gracious, mirceax, jrobertop has marked this note useful
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Hello Iulian
Great shot of this Water Snake ,
Perfect composition,lighting and BG,
Superb shot ,Welldone.
Good Luck
Fartash
Hello Iulian,
It's nice to see your posting again!
very good composition with such sharpness and details on the snake!
thanks for sharing and the wonderful notes
cheers
Tony
Salut Iulian,
O imagine super, ai reusit sa surprinzi sarpele chiar in momentul care trebuie,detalii si culori excelente.
Felicitari!
Mircea
- pvs
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(13835) - [2007-08-30 13:34]
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Hi Iulian,
A nice capture with a good POV,the picture is sharp and got good natural colors,well done and tfs
Paul
Hi Iulian,
Splendid shot!
Interesting POV.
Excellent definition and very good colors.
Impressive the wealth of details.
Congratulations!
José Roberto
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1013 W: 54 N: 1431]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-n.gif)
(5161)![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1987 W: 0 N: 3151]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
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