Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was sent this picture of a snake found near Richmond, Virginia. Not sure what it is, but definitely disagree with those who forwarded to me. They're saying it could be Atheris?!?! No, I'm not certain what it is, but can't see how anyone could come up that ! Something about it reminds me of a dehydrated Nerodia.
Let me know what you think,
Andy Via
Richmond, Virginia

Looks like a mud covered taxispilota to me

Gosh, I wish there were a better detailed pic that was closer up. I enlarged the photo as best I could on a photo program, but the pixelated very low-res photo quality won't allow much at all. It does "vaguely" resemble Atheris squamiger from a glance, but the large supralabia scales on the upper lip and the top of the head don't jive much for "Atheris squamiger" and suggest it is a very thin and dehydrated Nerodia of some kind though. It resembles a Salt Marsh Mangrove Water Snake (Nerodia clarkii compressicauda)because of the patternless color, but that sure doesn't belong there either..LOL!

It could be a very dried up and muddy, or maybe a more patternless Brown Water Snake(Neroidia taxispilota) though as the other poster suggested. The mud would explain the white looking eye it has too. That's about all I can say. My vote is for Brown Water Snake(Nerodia taxispilota) as well, and Richmond Virginia does fall right within their range..

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I can see where the color and rough scales could make someone think A. squamigera, but everything else is wrong (size, head shape, head scales, labial scales, tail). I agree with dehydrated Nerodia.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.