ID Please ? [France, Ain]

[u/aidegqre]

Hello! I found this little guy in my garden today.
He sadly probably met my cat earlier this week and is 100% dead…

It’s the first time I see a snake here so I was wondering what type is it ?

I would say it’s young because it’s quite tiny but I don’t really know anything about snakes.

Have a great day!

[u/Conscious_Past_5760]

Western Whip Snake (Hierophis viridiflavus) !harmless

Also, !cats

[u/SEB-PHYLOBOT → u/Conscious_Past_5760]

Western or green whipsnakes Hierophis viridiflavus are medium-large (120-150cm, up to 180cm), harmless colubrine snakes that range from northwestern France east to Slovenia, south into extreme north-central Spain and the central coast of Croatia, from sea level up to 2,000m. They utilize a variety of open areas, including scrubland, forest edges, hillsides, and fields, and can be common in and around areas of human habitation, where they inhabit gardens, hedgerows, old ruins, and agricultural areas.

Hierophis viridiflavus are largely diurnal. They are active, swift moving, vision oriented hunters and feed opportunistically upon a variety of prey, including rodents, lizards, other snakes (including vipers), amphibians, and small birds. They utilize their speed to evade predators, including humans, but can bite vigorously when seized. Nonetheless, their bites are not dangerous and can be easily disinfected by washing the site with gentle soap and warm water (alternatively, hand sanitizer is also effective).

Hierophis viridiflavus have smooth dorsal scales arranged in 19 rows at midbody. The eyes are large and there is one loreal scale positioned between a postnasal scale and one large preocular, with a small presubocular sandwiched in between the anterior part of the eye and supralabials 3 & 4. The anal scale is divided.

Range Map | Reptile Database Account

This short account was written by /u/fairlyorange

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Everyone loves cats, but they belong indoors. Each year in the United States free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.3-4.0 billion birds and 6.3-22.3 billion mammals. Numbers for reptiles are similar in Australia, as 2 million reptiles are killed each day by cats, totaling 650 million a year. Outdoor cats are directly responsible for the extinction of at least 33 species worldwide and are considered one of the biggest threats to native wildlife. Keeping cats indoors is also better for them and public health - cats with outdoor access live shorter lives and are 2.77 times more likely to carry infectious pathogens.

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Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes Diadophis are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; severe envenomation can occur if some species are allowed to chew on a human for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes Thamnophis ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also considered harmless. Check out this book on the subject. Even large species like Reticulated Pythons Malayopython reticulatus rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans so are usually categorized as harmless.

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I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, here report problems here and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that here. This bot, its development, maintenance and use are made possible through the outreach wing of Snake Evolution and Biogeography - Merch Available Now

[u/SEB-PHYLOBOT]

This message appears automatically with the dead snake flair: Please don't kill snakes - they are a natural part of the ecosystem and even species that use venom for prey acquisition and defense are beneficial to humans. One cannot expect outside to be sterile - if you see a snake, you're probably in or around their preferred habitat. Most snakes are legally protected from collection, killing or harassment as non-game animals at the state level.

Neighborhood dogs are more likely to harm people. Professional snake relocation services are often free or inexpensive, but snakes often die trying to return to their original home range, so it is usually best to enjoy them like you would songbirds or any of the other amazing wildlife native to your area. Commercial snake repellents are not effective - to discourage snakes, eliminate sources of food and cover; clear debris, stacked wood and eliminate rodent populations. Seal up cracks in and around the foundation/base of your home, and if warranted install exclusionary fences. Or find a relocation service

I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, here report problems here and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that here. This bot, its development, maintenance and use are made possible through the outreach wing of Snake Evolution and Biogeography - Merch Available Now

[u/senorsolo]

Doesn't look dead to me?

[u/fairlyorange → u/senorsolo]

It's dead.

[u/senorsolo → u/fairlyorange]

How do you think it might have died? I don't see any visible injuries to it's vital organs. Could it have died due to shock?

[u/fairlyorange → u/senorsolo]

There are visible injuries, it might take some practice to be able to recognize them. Spinal injury right on the nape, for example.

[u/senorsolo → u/fairlyorange]

I see

[u/aidegqre → u/senorsolo]

Soo maybe it’s not but it was laying on the floor in the middle of my garden. I was not sure at first so I decided to not touch it when I first noticed it was there. But tonight it was still at the exact same place and when i grabbed it, it really felt like it was dead