Please help me identify this East Texas Snake?

Question

We just found this snake and can't figure out what it is, exactly. What's throwing us off is the distinctive red stripe down this snake's back. I haven't been able to find anything like that anywhere online.

Any ideas? There's a picture at:

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e316/sarahincollege/HPIM0830.jpg

Answer 1

RIBBON SNAKE
yes. its a red-stripe ribbon!! take a look at these pics. they don't look harmful. its the fifth one
http://www.bugsinthenews.com/Texas%20Snakes/redstripe_ribbon_snake_060203.htm

here some more. it specificly says its from texas!!
http://www.redorbit.com/education/reference_library/reptiles/redstripe_ribbon_snake/2098/index.html

CANEBREAK
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/canebrake.htm

Answer 2

I sure hope and pray you aren't paying attention to the people who are telling you that this is a harmless Garter snake! This is an excellent example of a Canebrake Rattlesnake(Crotalus horridus atricaudatus), believed by some to be a separate species from the Timber Rattler, while argued to be a subspecies of Timber by others. It is also one of the most venomous snakes in the US, closely vying with the Mojave Green Rattler and the Tiger Rattler as the most venomous Pit Viper in this country. It packs a whallop of both hemotoxic(blood-destroying)and neurotoxic(nerve-paralyzing)venoms. The distinctive orange stripe running down the back, along with the black chevron-like markings, are a prominent feature of the Canebrake. While it is a beautiful animal, it is definately NOT one to be taken lightly or handled like a harmless snake, no matter how small it is!

Answer 3

CANEBRAKE RATTLESNAKE - Canebrake Rattlesnakes also refered to as the Timber Rattlesnake are generally found in the Central and Eastern piney woods area of Texas. This is a threatened species protected in Texas. A few have been found in Bastrop County but are extremly rare. These snakes average 3 to 4 feet in length. The snakes background color is usually a shade of gray, tan or brown. On the snakes back are dark chevrons or V-shaped bands. An orange stripe of varying shades and width runs from head to tail sometimes fading in the last third portion of the snake. The tail is black or dark brown. They are a mild mannered snake with potent venom.

http://www.austinreptileservice.net/stripes.html

Answer 4

It almost looks like a dusky pigmy rattlesnake, lemme dredge up the field guides and see if they occur over there.....


Blah, I've got a wealth of info right here at my fingertips silly me... *still a book person*....


http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/snakes/sistrurus.miliarius.html

And here's some various pages with photos to show how much variation from individual to individual there can be.....

http://www.uga.edu/srel/rattlesnake.htm
http://fr.treknature.com/gallery/North_America/United_States/South/photo61788.htm
http://www.fotosearch.com/AGE023/j76-335790/
http://www.members.carol.net/jmaloney/animal157.htm
http://members.aol.com/freedog1000/livingroom/pic3.htm

Take a close... rather careful.... not literally close.... look at it, elliptical pupils, heat sensory pits between the eyes and nostrils, triangular head, these are not good things to have on a snake if there is to be any contact with it.... I suggest taking it out into the woods (Hopefully you have it in a bucket or something if you still have it?) and letting it go where it won't be a threat to anyone... Still not sure? I'd call animal control (They'll usually come for snakes if they're contained...) see if they'll come out for it and ask for a positive ID before they take it away... down side here is that there is a possibility that their protocol will require the destruction of the snake. Perhaps call a local university with a herpetology department and ask if they could identify it for you...... (I do not suggest taking any snake to any location for a positive ID unless you are expected to show up with a snake, please call ahead before saying to yourself "Oh, the guys at such and such pet store will know what it is!" I worked at a pet store for a while, yes, I could ID snakes for people, but when they come in saying they found a kingsnake in their yard, you always had to keep in mind that it could just as easily be a coral.....)

Btw, pigmys are the most common venomous snake bite in Florida, people aren't paying attention to where their feet go and they're wearing sandals or flip-flops or no shoes at all and get it on it big toe or ankle... not fatal, but it can take a digit if it's not taken care of.

Answer 5

Looks similar to a Blackneck Garter Snake:
http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/snakes/thamnophis.cyrtopsis.html

Answer 6

I'm not a snake expert but from the shape of it's head it might be poisonous. I looked at it thru Windows Picture & Fax Viewer but couldn't see clearly. Be careful. Thought you should know.

Answer 7

I know the answer to this because one did bite me and I died. NO! GARTER AND RIBBON SNAKES, have stripes. Some are red, yellow, or orange. They are harmless. Their main diet is small fish or frogs. They live mostly near water.

Answer 8

Looks like a canebreak to me...

http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/crohor.htm

Answer 9

i might circulate on wikipedia or a seek engine style key terms like those you defined and get lower back the respond. i be attentive to you will possibly relatively hear it via somebody like us doing the artwork for you, besides the undeniable fact that it is going to likely be extra relaxing in case you attempt to do it your self!

Answer 10

it is DEFINITELY a timber or commonly called canebrake rattlesnake considered to be threatened in Texas, very dangerous, beautiful animal