Asian Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina)

OTHER NAMES: Boie's Whip Snake, Gunther's Whip Snake, Oriental whip Snake
Latin Etymology: Ahaetulla (Sinhalese word for "eye plucker") prasina ("leek green")

Adult Asian Vine Snake (subspecies A. p. prasina) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Ahaetulla prasina prasina
Weight: ?  /  Length: 1.8m
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

I had been meandering through Sungei Buloh, killing time while I waited for the tide to go out; as I returned back to the main river area however, a trio of people caught my attention not far from the visitor centre.  A herpetology enthusiast had spotted this little snake and was showing a passing father and child.  Being from the UK, snakes are always a novelty, so I appoached to take a closer look myself.  These are fascinating little creatures - unlike all species I'd seen before, arboreal and very slender.  They are actually faintly poisonous, but not aggressive to humans, so when offered the chance to hold it for a moment I took the opportunity before we returned it to its home in the foliage.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Ahaetulla
SUBSPECIES: A. p. medioxima, A. p. preocularis, A. p. prasina, A. p. suluensis

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica)

OTHER NAMES: Grass Snake, Common Snake, Green Snake, Water Snake, Ringed Snake

Latin Etymology: Natrix ("water snake") helvetica ("of Switzerland")

Adult Barred Grass Snake (subspecies N. n. helvetica) at Summer Leys, Northants - April 2024

Featured Subspecies: Natrix helvetica helvetica

Weight: 240g  /  Length: 100cm
NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest land based reptile in the UK, grass snakes are also by far the commonest of the UKs three native snake species  - it isn't technically particularly rare but seeing even this most common of snakes is a rare and unusual occurrence, which in most places isn't at all reliable.  It is not venomous, and mainly eats frogs and toads - and is also known as the water snake for it's propensity for swimming - often catching tadpoles. It may occasionally, as in this case, enter gardens and even hibernate or breed in people's compost heaps.

Related Species: 
Order: Colubridae
Family: Natricinae
Genus: Natrix
SUBSPECIES: N. n. natrix, N. n. cetti, N. n. corsa, N. n. helvetica, N. n. lanzai

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A reasonably common resident though difficult to see.

- Seen a few times around Geddington and Brigstock

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List. RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto  .

Western Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer)

OTHER NAMES: Pacific Gopher Snake, Coast Gopher Snake, Gopher Snake
Latin Etymology: Pituophis ("pine snake") catenifer ("chain bearing") 

Adult Western Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer) at Writing-on-Stone National Park, Alberta, Canada - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Bullsnake - Pituophis catenifer sayi
Weight: 1-4.5kg  /  Length: 36-84cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the largest snakes in North America, the Western Gopher Snake is found over most of the Western United States save for the higher parts of the Rockies. Despite being larger than them on average, Western Gopher Snakes will mimic the strike pose and tail shaking of Rattlesnakes to deter predators.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family:  Colubridae
Genus: Pituophis
SUBSPECIES: P. c. affinis, P. c. annectens, P. c. catenifer, P. c. desrticola, P. c. fulginatus, P. c. pumilis, P. c. sayi

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Found in very Southern parts of Alberta and British Columbia
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - One seen at Writing-on-Stone National Park, Alberta

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Plains Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)

OTHER NAMES: Western Hognose Snake, Prairie Hognose Snake, Blow Snake, Spoonbill Snake, Texas Hognose Snake, Spreadhead Snake
Latin Etymology: Heterodon ("different tooth") nasicus ("nose")  

Juvenile Plains Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus) at Sully Creek State Park, North Dakota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Heterodon nasicus nasicus
Weight: 80-350g  /  Length: 40-50cm 
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Occuring from Canada to Mexico through the Great Plains, the Plains Hognose is a relatively small species which gets its name from the upturned tip of it's nose, an adaptation used for burrowing. While technically it does possess venom, as a rear-fanged species and does not possess the ability to bite humans and only feeds upon much smaller prey. A popular species in captivity, where many colour morphs have been developed.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family:  Colubridae
Genus: Heterodon
SUBSPECIES: H. n. gloydi, H. n. kennerlyi, H. n. nasicus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES -Central Prairie of the Lower 48
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in North Dakota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.