Comments on: Was this a garter snake? http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm Thu, 24 May 2012 01:41:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: madsnakeman http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm/comment-page-1#comment-10926 madsnakeman Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:50:24 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm#comment-10926 I agree that it appears to be the tail of a skink. I agree that it appears to be the tail of a skink.

]]> By: AnswerBlaster http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm/comment-page-1#comment-10924 AnswerBlaster Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:50:24 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm#comment-10924 That was part of a reptile, but not a garter snake. Garter snakes have dark blackish/brownish coloration with white stripes. If it was a snake, it may have been a rough earth ground snake, and if it was a lizard, it may have been a species of skink. That was part of a reptile, but not a garter snake. Garter snakes have dark blackish/brownish coloration with white stripes. If it was a snake, it may have been a rough earth ground snake, and if it was a lizard, it may have been a species of skink.

]]> By: susan n http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm/comment-page-1#comment-10925 susan n Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:50:24 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm#comment-10925 Oh, I feel sad. I like snakes. Guess your cats do too :( . I can't tell what it is from the photo. I had said garter snake because they are common here in Massachusetts even in urban areas so it was my first guess. They have yellowish stripes along their sides and a pale belly. They are slender and grow to a little more that 2' . Ribbon snakes are similar and like wetter areas. If it has no stripes my next guess would be a black racer but they get big, 4' or longer. Could have been a youngster. To identify the remains you could try your state's Dept of Conservation, Wildlife, or whatever it is called website. I am sure the kitties are refusing to shed any light on their day's activities and are pretending innocence. Update: In one of the states you have mentioned there is another reptile called slender glass lizard which can also "break". Skinks are fascinating. There are none where I live so I had to Google. Very interesting. Hope it is still alive so you can give us an update on what it is. Oh, I feel sad. I like snakes. Guess your cats do too :( .

I can’t tell what it is from the photo. I had said garter snake because they are common here in Massachusetts even in urban areas so it was my first guess. They have yellowish stripes along their sides and a pale belly. They are slender and grow to a little more that 2′ . Ribbon snakes are similar and like wetter areas.

If it has no stripes my next guess would be a black racer but they get big, 4′ or longer. Could have been a youngster.

To identify the remains you could try your state’s Dept of Conservation, Wildlife, or whatever it is called website.

I am sure the kitties are refusing to shed any light on their day’s activities and are pretending innocence.

Update:
In one of the states you have mentioned there is another reptile called slender glass lizard which can also "break".

Skinks are fascinating. There are none where I live so I had to Google. Very interesting.

Hope it is still alive so you can give us an update on what it is.

]]> By: Quixotic http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm/comment-page-1#comment-10923 Quixotic Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:50:24 +0000 http://hurricanequestions.com/was-this-a-garter-snake.htm#comment-10923 Actually it's from a lizard and the lizard is likely just fine. It's from a skink (likely a five lined skink) to be more specific. They break off their tails several times (like first the tip breaks then the second time more will break) and so you can end up with segments just like that one. No snake has that exact pattern and those scales are definitely skink scales and not snake (all garters and ribbons have keeled scales). Additionally if it was from a snake the break wouldn't have been so clean (unless it was done with a knife). Only a lizard would have such a clean break without much blood. Actually it’s from a lizard and the lizard is likely just fine. It’s from a skink (likely a five lined skink) to be more specific. They break off their tails several times (like first the tip breaks then the second time more will break) and so you can end up with segments just like that one. No snake has that exact pattern and those scales are definitely skink scales and not snake (all garters and ribbons have keeled scales). Additionally if it was from a snake the break wouldn’t have been so clean (unless it was done with a knife). Only a lizard would have such a clean break without much blood.

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