Grass Snakes.

[adamanteus]

Thankyou Sid. From an experienced "field man" such as yourself, that is praise indeed.

[Cazador]

How funny. I can picture you jumping into that marsh, but at least it paid off . Was that the only one you saw, or did you jump in for any that got away?

[Stefan-A]

Originally Posted by adamanteus

He is a beauty isn't he? He was resting on a floating mat of vegetation, having just swallowed a frog. I spotted him and just kinda launched myself headlong into the slop! Then he musked me...as if I wasn't messed up enough already! I'm just really pleased he didn't regurgitate his meal.

Crikey!

[stonyloam]

Interesting; what we always called “grass snakes” are really smooth green snakes (Opheodrys vernalis). When I was a kid we used to find them all the time when we picked up hay bales out of the fields.

[adamanteus]

Originally Posted by stonyloam

Interesting; what we always called “grass snakes” are really smooth green snakes (Opheodrys vernalis). When I was a kid we used to find them all the time when we picked up hay bales out of the fields.

It can be confusing using common names, when they differ from country to country, or even from region to region. That's why I always try to use scientific names when I can.

[Stefan-A]

Originally Posted by adamanteus

It can be confusing using common names, when they differ from country to country, or even from region to region. That's why I always try to use scientific names when I can.

Indeed. And it gets even more problematic when you try to translate the names.

The Finnish name for grass snake would be translated as "shore snake" and the direct translation of the Swedish name would most likely simply be "snake" or "common snake", considering that the Swedish word "snok" is very closely related to the word "snake". "Snok" also happens to be the word used for colubrids in general.

So yes, I too prefer using or at least mentioning the scientific name.


edit: If you didn't quite get that "Crikey!" I posted earlier, I just pictured you as Steve Irwin.

[adamanteus]

So, what's the scientific name for the Common Shore Snok Snake, Stefan?

[adamanteus]

Originally Posted by Stefan-A

If you didn't quite get that "Crikey!" I posted earlier, I just pictured you as Steve Irwin.

Oh right! No I had missed that reference. I'm afraid my little adventure doesn't come close to anything of Steve's...bless him.

[Stefan-A]

I don't remember. Something about a matrix.

Originally Posted by adamanteus

Oh right! No I had missed that reference. I'm afraid my little adventure doesn't come close to anything of Steve's...bless him.

But try picturing him telling that same story.

[adamanteus]

Originally Posted by Stefan-A

But try picturing him telling that same story.

Take look at this little beauty! Ripper! .....Splash!!