August 15, 2010 | 
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It’s no surprise that the middle of summer in Texas is not the best time of year for birding. Sure, there are birds – great birds, like Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Painted Buntings. But for birdwatchers themselves - a stroll in the woods, through a meadow, or even along a shoreline can be a dangerously hot outing. It is much easier to find and appreciate the abundant insect life in the summers, as well as the turtles, frogs, skinks, and snakes.
Snakes have been high on my list this summer, and I have enjoyed a few sightings of the resident Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) around my house. But my neighbors have told me about a much larger snake – several snakes, in fact: big and black, with a stripe. I’ve only caught one glimpse, as I pulled up into my driveway. I went right back outside in hopes of getting a good look, but to no avail.
What I did find, on the other side of my house, was this three-foot snake skin:
This photo shows the snake skin exactly how I found it. I only discovered this snake skin after removing several large shrubs from underneath a Crepe Myrtle tree (pre-100% Native plant days). The tiny baby Green Anole (Anolis carolinenesis) moved, which is the only way I would have seen him.
Closer inspection of the snake skin revealed a near-perfect head:
Is that cool, or what? I think I can even see where the eye was. The skin-head (that’s awkward to say) looks like it is about to chomp down on that twig.
Meanwhile, the baby Green Anole found some cover amongst the remaining brush.
Posted in Amphibians & Reptiles
Were you able to identify it as a “skin-head” because of a swastika tattoo?
AJ, I can always count on you to be the Comedian.
It’s so cool to find shed skins like this, especially if they’re large. There’s just something awesome about knowing a killer is lurking about unseen.
I hope you get a chance for a clearer view of the mystery snake you glimpsed (and that your neighbors are talking about). It would be neat to find a new yard species.
(BTW, I have read that you can ID the species of snake, or at least the genus, by looking at the shed skin. The arrangement of scales is apparently how that’s accomplished. This is a skill I have yet to acquire.)
I’ll wait about 15 minutes, then check back with you on that Genus ID from the photo of the snake skin. That’s about how long I figure it’ll take you to acquire that skill. I’m only halfway kidding – you’ve got some impressive smarts in that noggin’.
[...] HERPS 121: INTRODUCTION TO SNAKE SHEDS In this introductory class, taught by Amber Coakley, students will learn about the shedding habits of mystery snake species. Special attention will be paid to the quality of the skin’s preservation. The course may include surprise guest lectures from very tiny anoles. Room 815, Birder’s Lounge [...]
Cute anole and nice skin. Indeed you can ID skins from scale counts, but you can also narrow it down by looking at keeling – some snakes such as pit vipers and garter snakes have a little ridge down the middle of the scale – and the pattern, which is sometimes left in the skin. You can rule out a rattler if you have a tail tip on the shed.
I get excited if I can ID a snake-in-the-flesh…wouldn’t I be fancy if I learned how to ID a snake skin some day! Thanks for the info, Bernard.
A co-worker brought in a huge snakeskin to testify the huge rattlesnake living in her yard, and I pointed out the large scales between the eyes shown in the skin as proof that it was probably a gophersnake, but most certainly not a rattlesnake which have small scales between their eyessmall scales between their eyes. I hope that convinced her not to kill every snake she sees in her yard. In California, I use http://www.californiaherps.com/ to identify herps and it has great descriptions of scale counts to help id which also helps with skins. I recently found a snake skin which had no hole in it except at the mouth. Does that mean the snake just slipped out straight through the mouth? Amazing! I often find whole snake skins sticking out of holes in the ground or from between rocks – seems like they use these spots as a way to push off the skin.
http://dipperanch.blogspot.com/2010/04/buzzer-gets-its-color.html
I know a guy who could probably tell us if a snake can shed its entire skin by exiting through the mouth. And a few readers could too, I bet.
I found a snake skin in my pond once, the ghostly skin was floating in the water much like a snake might, with the head near the surface and the body disappearing down below. I’m sure the snake rubbed against a rock or something, leaving the skin to psyche us all out. It was really cool!
I came across a garter snake shedding here in florida, after she settled down to the idea I was gonna hold her, she started rubbing against my fingers like a cat “ay aying” (cat lovers from Pa. should get that,) Off came the skin, and a beautiful shiney blue garter snake was off and slithering feeling quite brave and pretty!
What a great snake experience! The only time I ever caught and held a garter snake, it pooped on me. Or musked me. Or both – heck, I just know that it was really stinky. I let him go.
Garter snakes are known to put on the I’m bad routine from trying to bite, and will if you let um, then putting on the stinky musk, excreating grossness and generally trying to convince you you don’t like them. I like them anyway and have lots of patience, so once they realize that,they hang up the big and bad and get to work sniffing and slithering about exploring you! Then they will actually let you stroke them and rub their chin! I just can’t “keep” snakes, I always set them free after a brief encounter. I happen to like all the critters they eat as well, so choosing their next meal, does not appeal to me, I’d rather they do that!
Lynn, you’re a kindred spirit – I prefer to observe and release as well. I know that wild animals are happiest when free to live independently and without artificial boundaries. Aren’t we all?