It has no other markings, just pure black on top and yellow belly. it was found in Central CA.
2007-03-13 16:58:31 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
it is only about 7 inches long, very smooth, not scaley at all. looks like a black and yellow, very big earthworm.
2007-03-13 17:35:21 · update #1
No other markings at all? No little yellow band around it's neck? I don't know my california snakes too well, personally, and as you can see, there's some debate going on.
Garter snakes in my mind always have a bit of patterning on their back, so unless it's some crazy california subspecies that us people back east wouldn't recognize.... ;)
My suggestion is to find a field guide to your local reptiles, because if you've seen one snake, you'll see more, and having positive identification whereever you tend to see most of your wild snakes is always handy. See them in the yard? Keep a field guide in the house. See them when out and about, keep one in the car. Hiking? In a backpack. You'll know what it is, it's range, what it feeds on, how big it gets, and all kinds of other good things.
2007-03-14 00:32:38 · answer #1 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been studying reptiles for quite some time and the only yellow bellied black snake is a water snake. There is a red bellies black snake but nothing called a yellow bellies black snake. I would lay odds that you were looking at the common garter snake. They are extremely common in the US.
2007-03-14 01:14:01 · answer #2 · answered by boxerowner2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This link may help you identify your snake:
http://www.californiaherps.com/identification/snakesid/snakes.id.html
The Two-striped Garter snake (Thamnopis hammondii) that Alyssa mentions does not range into Central California
Range map of the Two-Striped Garter snake:
http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/t.hammondii.html
2007-03-14 01:24:34 · answer #3 · answered by hotsnakes2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a Yellow belly black snake. I don't no the scientific name for it.
2007-03-14 00:06:35 · answer #4 · answered by biancajh 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/thammondisbarbhubbs.jpg
Is this is? Common garter snake, totally harmless.
I highly doubt a venomous Australian reptile ended up running wild in CA.
2007-03-14 00:18:12 · answer #5 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It could be a yellow-bellied black snake...I kid you not. They are Australian and poisonous so be careful. A museum near you should be able to ID it.
2007-03-14 00:07:32 · answer #6 · answered by dragonrider707 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋