Past Sunday we meet one of this awesome snake on this place (I was there for a knife's trial, it's another story :-)


From Wikipedia:
Aesculapian Snake
Aesculapian Snake
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Zamenis
Species: Z. longissimus
Binomial name
Zamenis longissimus
Laurenti, 1768
Aesculapian Snake (Elaphe longissima or Zamenis longissimus) is a snake native to Europe.

It is a large slender non-venomous snake, which is an excellent tree-climber. When young, it feeds on lizards, as an adult its diet consists of rodents, moles, and shrews, young birds and eggs which it kills by constriction, or suffocation by eating its victim head first. Female lay clutches of 5-8 eggs in June/July.

A self-sustaining colony of Aesculapian Snakes (sometimes referred to as the rat snake) established itself in North Wales during the 1970s. Although this snake is an alien species to the United Kingdom, it is considered harmless and poses no threat. There is a small colony within the Welsh Mountain Zoo and are also found in the nearby gardens.

This species is also associated with Greek Mythology and Medical History. It is said that the staff of Aesculapius has Elaphe longissima coiled around it. This is not to be confused with the staff of Hermes (the winged staff with two snakes).This species is also found in some places of Austria and Germany where Roman temples of healing were established.There have been a couple color morphs discovered with this species: Amelanism (albino), and Melanism.

It appears on the medical symbol, the Rod of Asclepius.

It is common in the Loire Valley region of France, as well as in the Bieszczady Mountains and Beskidy Mountains in Poland. However, facing extinction.



Here any pics and a couple of brief footages (I apologize in advance with JD for my poor technique on handling snakes). This guy was amazingly strong, and in the same time so elegant,awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/user/dinozzocsi#p/u/2/P7Fceypg4Bc

http://www.youtube.com/user/dinozzocsi#p/u/1/ZVDJVj_ZY5Q



















Enjoi, ciao,
Alfredo

Nice scenery but you can keep the snake!

ahaha, it's not venomous ;-)

love snakes in the wild, not as pets though

Very nice pics.

What are the two blades on your pack?

The snake has some great color.

Does not matter! I used to think you were a smart man, but CATCHING a snake! I'll reserve a room for you at the local mental facility! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ok, yeah it is a pretty sort of gold/olive/brown color.

:-) Randy, in US you had good reasons to be afraid about snakes, because you had several venomous species. But, here in Europe, we just had adders as a venomous species, and they are so differents in front to the other snakes that you may be sure ;-)

Can't speak about them, they are not SY, sorry

Thanks.

Thanks for the pics Alfredo,I love snakes,I was always catching them as a kid.(gophers,kings & garters in Cali.)