I stuck in my thumb and pulled out - a snake. Just a little bitty snake.(Southern Ringneck Snake - Diadophis punctatus punctatus)
Addendum: I just realized I haven't been giving much information in my posts of late. Blame it on my oh, sooooo slow, connection. (At 14.4 it takes forever just to load a picture.)
The ringneck is a small, slender snake. Most guides will give it's max length as 20 inches. This particular snake was about 12-13 inches. Ringnecks are mostly active at night and they eat earthworms, small salamanders, frogs, and lizards. I have never had one attempt to bite, but every single one I have ever handled has discharged some pretty smelly musk from its anal glands.
6 comments:
*considers making the recommendation not to insert thumb into same spot, but knows she won't listen*
:P
14.4???
You make me feel speedy with my 49.2 dialup.
Mr. B, you know I love my snakes. Would it make you feel better to know that I look before I stick my hand in? :)
FC, sadly today's speed is even slower. I have a connection rate of 12.0. Needless to say, we have phone line issues here. For some reason there is a lot of noise on the line and the phone company just can't seem to get it together enough to fix it (oh dear, I must watch my tone lest my true feelings for Sprint show themselves...)
Swampy, how do you know she's a girl? Just cause she's pretty?
Found a similar ringneck snake in my woods last weekend. Don't know if it's the same variety as your southern kind, and I don't know if it was a boy or girl. I was suspicioius of the musking defense, so I didn't pick it up (though could have easily).
Nice photos!
I'm forever curious about what you're finding in the swamps. Thank you for the extra information, too. :)
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