hi

i would really appreciate some help with identifying snakes i keep at home that are native to Syria. There is so very little awareness of the importance of wildlife here. I get most of these snakes from people who kill them on sight usually.

This species is new to me and surely does not seem to be a watersnake like many of the other ones I keep. I have 2 of it. The one in the photos must have been defanged because when I got it, there was some blood in its mouth. That is so terrible. I feed it by fish and frogs by hand and it seems to be in good health. I got the other one yesterday and I it bit me but nothing happened except for some blood.

Does anyone now what is the scientific name of what is commonly called hanash here? It is an all-black thick snake that usually grows to 2 meters. Some say it is venomous, some say it is not. I have one and will post photos of it very soon. It is very beautiful.

Thanks for all the help.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image1/9/52/99/131895299iRIHQQ_fs.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image11/9/65/91/131896591LXoOun_fs.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image8/9/84/81/131898481Yaivpu_fs.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/s/image8/0/13/30/131901330XohcCO_fs.jpg

[ Hide Replies ]

• snakes in syria identification - bishr, Wed Apr 7 13:14:18 2004
• RE: snakes in syria identification - rearfang, Wed Apr 7 15:53:39 2004
• RE: snakes in syria identification - lolaophidia, Wed Apr 7 17:41:47 2004
• RE: snakes in syria identification clarification to previous post - lolaophidia, Wed Apr 7 17:46:52 2004
• RE: snakes in syria identification - bishr, Thu Apr 8 15:13:57 2004
• Looks like Coluber najadum to me too. Harmless. - chrish, Wed Apr 7 21:43:16 2004
• RE: snakes in syria identification - WW, Thu Apr 8 05:23:23 2004
• final conclusion - bishr, Fri Apr 9 07:36:36 2004
• Actually... - WW, Fri Apr 9 14:15:26 2004
• RE: Actually... - bishr, Sat Apr 10 11:00:47 2004