Snakes of Cyprus - be aware but not afraid

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 05:57

I have heard from a few villagers that there are more snakes around this year. This got me thinking, we don't know what snakes there are in Cyprus, how to avoid snake bites and what to do if we are ever bitten, so what follows is the result of some research.



http://cyprusgardener.blogspot.com/2011/06/snakes-of-cyprus-be-aware-but-not.html

CarrieRBag



Joined: 23/12/2008
Posts: 1374

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 08:17

Thank you for that webpage...really good. I just wish my fear of snakes was not so acute!

Scoty


Joined: 23/05/2010
Posts: 846

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 08:32

Thanks for the info' and pictures.

At least now I know what I will be looking at next time I come across one. Hopefully not too soon

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 09:31

Very useful, Thank You.

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 09:36

very apt posting just checked it out as there are 2 in the Garden right now.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 09:37

Word for the day is ophidiophobia or snake phobia

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 09:43

Boo ..Hisssss.

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 09:44

Thank you for the very useful information. We have seen 3 snakes this year, none in the previous two years....and all have been in the local streets where there is a bit of grassland nearby. Regards, Mrs Snakes!

Jetski


Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 584

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 09:45

Thanks for the link joef55. Was the original book in German aswell? I seem to remember it was, and where did you buy it please.

keldanreb


Joined: 17/09/2009
Posts: 212

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 09:54

at last a constructive,helpful,informative,useful,piece of info....this is what we want,not the depressing bull@&*+, 90% of the people write in this forum.

Vidal


Joined: 14/05/2009
Posts: 867

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 10:47

Brilliant blog and website! I read your post.......an hour and a half later!!



Im so glad you posted, Ive now saved you to my favourites and will be working my way through all the info and recipes.



Thanks.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 11:35

Mrs Snakes do you know what species the 3 you saw were?

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 16:42

Joef55, the one in the next residential road to us (we are in Zeytinlik) which slithered into a rough patch of grassland we think is the montpellier. The other was a small (about 2 feet) small cyprus whip and the other last week which had been run over whilst crossing the road was also a large whip, very black, at least 2 meters long. This was on a residentail road in Dogankoy, near the beauty place 'Fatos'. Unfortunately it died. Maybe you could help with my bananas please?!! 3 of my trees have crops, I have seen sometimes crops covered with a plastic bag, should I be doing anything please. They are small and green, the first crop appeared about 8 weeks ago. KInd regards, Mrs Snakes.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 20:12

Mrs Snakes. Apparently commercial banana growers use covers (plastic bags open at both ends that they slip over the bunch and tie at the top) to protect bananas from diseases, insects and sunburn.



Bananas are ready to be picked when they look well rounded with ribs and the little flowers at the end are dry and rub off easily. They will eventually ripen on the bunch.

Jetski


Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 584

Message Posted:
09/06/2011 22:28

Joef55.... any chance of letting us know where you bought the book that you scanned in to the website?... I'm sure people would be grateful to have a copy when on the move.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
10/06/2011 06:55

Jetski - I have not scanned any book but merely researched on the internet but just looked and there is a book by Hans-Jorg Wiedl on the snakes of cyprus which you might be able to buy somewhere which is in English

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
10/06/2011 08:39

thank you joef55 about the info on bananas!

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
10/06/2011 10:32

Pleasure MrsSnakes

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
10/06/2011 14:32

Saw another brown snake in Dogankoy this morning, about 1 meter long, in the road and it slithered into the grass verge!

suehowlittle


Joined: 31/10/2010
Posts: 1202

Message Posted:
11/06/2011 00:05

What colour is the coin snake please - and is it a tiny little thing - thick as a woman's finger and about 18 inches long ? The one I saw was brown.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
11/06/2011 06:36

Sue that sounds like a worm snake.

suehowlittle


Joined: 31/10/2010
Posts: 1202

Message Posted:
12/06/2011 21:11

I think snakes have a very hard life here, I keep seeing the whip snakes with their heads cut off. Why would anyone kill something which would not hurt them?



I am fairly sure they are protected here but does anyone care enough to police that? Would the Belediyese come to your garden and remove a snake or would they just tell you to kill it?



Anyone know?

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
12/06/2011 21:19

I keep looking for snakes all over but have never seen any. In U.A.E I swam/ran the snake pass and swam

in waters supposed to have dangerous water snakes, but never saw one yet. I do not fear them as unless

you are unfortunate enough to tread on one they are more afraid of you than you them, (I think)

I would never kill one.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
13/06/2011 14:27

Its a crime to kill endangered snakes but I bet nobody has ever been prosecuted

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
13/06/2011 18:30

the mother of all snakes was killed by the tanker driver last year and im glad he did it was huge and i mean huge brute that was striking at anyone who got close understandable but it was a viper and you more then likly would have died if that had bitten you ill see if i can find the picture i took and post for you

bevhills


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 55

Message Posted:
13/06/2011 18:51

Excellent posts and most constructive. I lost my dog to a viper in the garden 5 weeks ago. There is a powder available (I got mine from the YAPI- DIY) market in Esentepe albeit too late . 9 ytl a kilo. Check your garden is clear of snakes first then spread it around your perimeter and a snake wont cross it.

cemaliye7a


Joined: 06/06/2010
Posts: 239

Message Posted:
13/06/2011 21:54

very useful info indeed

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
18/06/2011 12:02

Thanks for the info bevhills on the snake powder

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
18/06/2011 21:57

Saw a very large whip snake this afternoon

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
22/06/2011 14:21

Dis you know a snakes sense of smell is in their tongue, that why they flick their tongues in and out.

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
22/06/2011 15:00

I lived 15 years in Cyprus and never came across any poisoneous snakes. That's because we used to feed black snakes to help stay around especially as there were such a load of Greek Cypriot rats around for them to eat.



So really what you need is Greek Cypriot rats and black snakes. Problem solved.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
22/06/2011 18:09

Yfred - our 'mavro fithi' lived close to a nest of 'finas' in our drystone garden wall - sorry, but to say the blunt-nosed pit viper is deterred by the black whip-snake is a 'kojakari's myth' - bourthes!!!

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
22/06/2011 21:27

Don't blunt nosed vipers eat other snakes - they would probably eat small black ones

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
23/06/2011 11:01

Most snakes will devour smaller snakes.



I've witnessed a blunt-nosed pit viper swallowing a Cyprus, stringy, old hare - gruesome!



Carob rats really scream when being devoured by snakes - in contrast to little wide-mouthed frogs, who seem to make no fuss at all!

BoTanica


Joined: 22/12/2009
Posts: 714

Message Posted:
23/06/2011 11:17

I have bought some serum just in case (kept in fridge) together with the lanate antidote as my garden is very "natural" and I worry about my dog.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
23/06/2011 15:08

Would the serum work on humans aswell as dogs?

LaptaGeezer


Joined: 01/06/2010
Posts: 407

Message Posted:
26/06/2011 10:21

I saw a couple of snakes this morning on my walk... both had been run over. One was a Blunt Nosed Viper and not sure about the other. Seemed quite thin, about 18 inches long and had a row of dark patches along its back. I have looked at a few pics so for but not seen anything that looks the same.

LaptaGeezer


Joined: 01/06/2010
Posts: 407

Message Posted:
26/06/2011 10:28

Further research leads me to think it was a Coin Snake...

Roomy


Joined: 20/02/2011
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
26/06/2011 10:37

I didn't realise there were as many snakes in Cyprus.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
26/06/2011 11:04

Saw a big whip snake yesterday

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
26/06/2011 11:13

Botanica:



I suppose you do realise that it is 'Lannate' that the locals use to put in the bait/meat to attract and kill dogs and cats and other wildlife - hedgehogs, shrews, and many bird species - especially falcons.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
26/06/2011 11:21

Sorry, 'Botanica'!



Having just read your profile, of course you know all about 'Lannate'!



Amazingly, it is still used in Cyprus [RoC] in many agricultural and even garden insecticide sprays, where it is the main constituent, combined with a very small percentage of 'Cypermethrin'/'Permithrin'!



Shocking, isn't it!?

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
26/06/2011 18:18

I thought, the sale of lannate hds been banned in the ROC

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
26/06/2011 20:15

EU lawmakers banned Lannate and it was taken off shop shelves in March 2009.

DianeY


Joined: 28/11/2010
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
27/06/2011 21:48

Read your blog Joe but I am still afrafraid

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
29/06/2011 09:15

I think most of us have an in-built fear which protects us

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
03/07/2011 18:13

Saw a whip snake

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 13:58

We saw a 2 meter whip. fat, black and shiny on Friday, crossing the road, Aclsu Sokak, Karakum opposite the school.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 14:56

Did anyone else see the report in the "Kibris" paper during the week about the snake that the road workers "accidentally" killed whilst working on the roads out by Balalan?



Just for information - it was reported to be what is known locally as a "Deaf" snake or viper and it weighed in at 48 Kilo's, yes that is correct, 48 Kilo's. There was a picture of a lump of it hanging over one of the workman's arms and it was a BIG snake.



Lot's of other "Folklaw" included in the report as well but the bit that caught my interest was the size of the actual snake killed.



Now, some expert on Cyprus, please tell me that snakes can not grow this big here or at least explain why this one did?

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 15:30

No, did not see this, Waddo, maybe someone can post the article! That is a bit scary!!

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 15:54

48 kilo snake !!!!!!!!!!!!!

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 16:39

Had it read to me as it was all in Turkish, then went home and used Google translate and got the same story as I was told - so I am "happy?" that it was a true bit of news reporting. Not to happy about the size of the snake as I thought I had left that size of snake behind me in the far east!!



The picture only showed about 1.5 metres of it hung over the guys arm and it must have been the middle bit as it was as thick as my thigh - now being very, very careful about turning over rocks and trucks - lol.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 19:39

Also just found a little bit about it - bound to be small - in Cyprus Today Saturday edition.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 20:17

Anyone got a photo?

Southcoaster


Joined: 01/04/2009
Posts: 81

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 20:56

It is not one of the Cyprus snakes. The longest here is the Large Whip Snake which reaches about 2.5m. It is probably an escapee. Some people enjoy keeping them as pets!

Riddles


Joined: 26/04/2011
Posts: 429

Message Posted:
10/07/2011 21:52

45 kilo is two maximum weight Turkish Airline suitcases isn't it? That's really hard to believe...the story said in was a viper.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 09:23

Saw the photo in Kibris newspaper and it was huge. Believe it was called a "deaf snake" or a horned viper. It was as thick as a mans thigh and even the photo made me cringe.

MrsSnakes



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 1100

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 12:26

Joef55, do you know much about this kind of snake please?

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 13:33

Sounds like a venomous blunt nosed viper and probably a female as males are usually 3 and a half feet (1 m) long, while females are 5 feet (1.5 m) long.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 14:00

By the look of its body, it must have had a head as big as an Alsatian.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
11/07/2011 15:44

Not a Cyprus snake then - maybe it was a tourist? Would have been a female as the bit that was in the photo was over 3.5 feet long without the head or tail. If the head was as big as the rest of it I don't think it would have mattered if it was venomous or not, the bite size would have done the job well enough.



Started to take up jogging again, just a small precaution in case I spot one and have to leg it fast!!!!

fatelady


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 61

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 03:20

someone mentioned having a serum just incase , would that be an antidote for snake bites if so where can you get it , i would like to store some indoors just incase , i am trained as a nurse so could inject, no worries

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 07:55

Well, if it was a Horned Viper then this may be of interest to you in the search for antidotes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipera_ammodytes



Then again, if the fangs are only supposed to be 13mm long in a 95cm snake I would not like to see the fangs on the one they killed - nor try to figure out how many ltrs of antidote I would need. Much better to run away - fast!!!!!

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 15:17

Run very fast

Mad-Taff


Joined: 18/02/2010
Posts: 36

Message Posted:
12/07/2011 22:26

We saw what I think was a whip snake about 1 metre long approx get run over on the road just up from the Cyprus Queen leading up to the Black Olive on our last visit mid June.

Didnt fancy going back to have a look though !

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 09:34

Just for those of us who like unusual facts the scientific name of the Cyprus whip snake is Hierophis cypriensis.

BoTanica


Joined: 22/12/2009
Posts: 714

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 09:55

fatelady I bought it at the local chemist and keep it in the fridge together with poison antidote. It can be used for animal or humans although I bought it just in case my puppy got bitten in my rather overgrown garden!!

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
13/07/2011 16:39

How much does the poison serum cost? And how long does it keep for?

BoTanica


Joined: 22/12/2009
Posts: 714

Message Posted:
14/07/2011 10:02

It cost approx £100 and is good until 2013.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
15/07/2011 13:48

Thanks BoTanica

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
19/07/2011 12:19

There were these two snakes wriggling along in the jungle.



One of the snakes said to the other. “Are we poisonous?”



The second snake replied “Why?”



The first snake said “Cause I just bit my lip!!”

Riddles


Joined: 26/04/2011
Posts: 429

Message Posted:
20/07/2011 15:05

The unmistakable track of a large-ish snake across the asphalt 2nd green (New Course) at Yesilyurt yesterday morning ......was it after a birdie? (I certainly didn't get one)

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
21/07/2011 19:08

Riddles - reminds me of an old story



Australian snake misses the birdie, swallows golf balls

(AFP) – Jan 2, 2008

SYDNEY (AFP) — Emergency surgery was performed to save an Australian snake that swallowed four golf balls after mistaking them for chicken eggs, a veterinarian said Thursday.

A couple discovered the one-metre (three-foot) python at their property with four bulges in its stomach and realised it had eaten golf balls placed on nests in a chicken coop to calm broody hens.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 13:51

The BBC has reported that Snakes may be declining across the world, according to a global study.

Researchers examined records for 17 snake populations covering eight species over the last few decades, and found most had declined markedly.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 13:57

On Sunday whilst talking dog for a walk, saw a snake track across the dust in the road near Malatya waterfall. The track was about 2" wide (the belly track?) and the curves gave the impression this was not a small snake.

tarry67


Joined: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1053

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 14:17

Have one in my pump room somewhere as saw it as I walked down the steps. I almost put my arm on the damn thing. It was about a metre long and brown and was not happy to see me by its actions, as I turned and made a dash for the top. The trouble is now I am not sure if its still down there.



My biggest mistake was telling the missus as I could of sent her down to turn the pump on without her having any knowledge of what awaited...................!!!!!!!! Only kidding...............Honestly........lol

cyprusLulz


Joined: 01/08/2011
Posts: 113

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 14:25

Snakes are great I had Burmese python for many years he started out at 50cm and grew to 3.5 meters

authentichoccie


Joined: 09/01/2008
Posts: 481

Message Posted:
01/08/2011 17:31

Tarry bloomin cheek! get your wellies on and go down and have a look, I'll wait at the top of the stairs ready to call the ambulance!! Lol!

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
06/08/2011 13:23

A man was driving near a park in his Washington state hometown when he noticed an object on the side of the road that he thought was a large tree root. It turned out to be a dead, 16-foot-long python.



Lino Silva of Sedro-Woolley says the snake apparently had been run over by a car.



He and his friend Nick Pfeifer hauled the roadkill snake to a relative's house, where they skinned it.

Riddles


Joined: 26/04/2011
Posts: 429

Message Posted:
06/08/2011 15:45

Home made snake 'n' kidney pie(thon)?

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
07/08/2011 19:14

Never mind snake and kidney - what about some heart



Gordon Ramsay has been labelled "offensive" by animal welfare groups after eating the still-beating heart of a snake on television.



The Michelin-starred chef was filmed swallowing the raw cobra organ after watching the struggling creature being slit open at his table in a restaurant.

The scene was recorded in Vietnam, where eating snake is associated with virility and enhanced male sexual performance.



Andrew Tyler, director of charity Animal Aid, said: "Clearly Gordon Ramsay is complicit in an act of cruelty to an animal, something that would be a criminal offence if it happened in Britain. Snakes can feel pain like any other animal and there is no excuse for this.



"His macho posturing, and this disgusting scene in particular, suggests he is insecure in his masculinity."

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
12/08/2011 19:01

Any snake sightings?

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
05/09/2011 14:48

A man is in custody after being accused of biting a python in what police in California said was apparently an unprovoked attack on a friend's pet snake. The suspect, David Senk, 54, was arrested on suspicion of unlawfully maiming a reptile, Sacramento police said. The snake was badly injured and needed stitches after surgery to its wounds.



In a jailhouse interview on local TV, Senk said he had no recollection of the incident after blacking out from drinking.



Asked why he might have bitten the snake, Senk replied: "I get drunk, I get crazy. I don't know." Senk said he was "not too fond of snakes [but] I try not to bite them. It's the other way around usually". REUTERS

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
30/10/2011 07:11

When do snakes hibernate?

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
30/10/2011 07:58

Hi joef55,

Not too sure when they do in Cyprus, saw a black one last Thursday.

Navek

Lionokan



Joined: 11/03/2011
Posts: 90

Message Posted:
30/10/2011 15:04

If you know how you have to behave them they are not very dangerous

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
30/10/2011 23:19

The first time I ever went to Cyprus I seen a whip snake whilst in the Karpaz region. I jumped out of my skin! It was the first time I had ever seen a snake in the wild and it was huge!



Whilst on the subject of reptiles - I also can not believe the amount of lizzards in Cyprus. I have never seen so many. When we are out and about there always seems to be hundereds of them everywhere, scattering with each step we take. It's quite amazing!



Angela

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
31/10/2011 10:19

I believe there are 11 different species of lizard in Cyprus

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
01/11/2011 18:25

The tail of some lizards separate from the body when the lizard is grabbed. The tail that is left behind wriggles, confusing the other animal. This defense gives the lizard time to escape. Another tail will grow back, but it will be shorter and of a different colour.

AngelaT


Joined: 25/04/2011
Posts: 114

Message Posted:
01/11/2011 19:32

When my brother was a child he grabbed a lizard by the tail and that actually happened! I can well believe the 11 species thing. There seem to be so many of them. We've seen some really big ones as well. They can run really fast too.



Angela

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
02/11/2011 16:54

The geckos are good at keeping flies and mossie populations down a tiny bit

davpat


Joined: 23/08/2011
Posts: 225

Message Posted:
02/11/2011 18:30

....has anyone spotted the one eyed "Tryser" snake in Cyprus?







David

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
03/11/2011 06:46

Apparently mostly seen in bedrooms hah hah

DianeY


Joined: 28/11/2010
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
07/11/2011 12:28

Saw a small snake cross the road yesterday

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
27/11/2011 19:00

Why can't you trust snakes



Because they speak with a forked tongue

slatnumber7


Joined: 25/08/2010
Posts: 299

Message Posted:
27/11/2011 21:41

So joe55 who's been peeking in the Christmas crackers then?



Most of the snakes here are now dormant so no need to worry too much. However, be aware of quiet, sunny, rocky sites on warm days for the next couple of weeks where they maybe catching a few rays! They are sluggish and do not like to be disturbed.

Becker


Joined: 13/11/2011
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
27/11/2011 22:40

Saw a Blunt nosed viper run over in road (took picture & local i.d.it) it was about 1.2 metres long without its head.I asked local ,why would anyone cut off its head? His reply ,to make sure its dead & also milk the venom for an anti-dote.Body was as thick round as my arm.Grows to max 180cm.He also said there is a much bigger snake here which will bite but is not venomous,he called it "The Black Snake".This will actually kill & eat B.N.Vipers.Not venomous but will attack & bite you if approached.Also large whip snake,coin& grass(non venomous).Montpellier & Cat are 2 more biters but unusual & not dangerous just painful.Saw another small viper dead on Bellapais main rd last week.We walk miles during the week & not seen any live snakes yet.

laptajack


Joined: 04/10/2008
Posts: 95

Message Posted:
27/11/2011 23:08

http://s1127.photobucket.com/albums/l631/laptajack/



Spotted outside my place the other week...Baby Snakes.....

LaptaGeezer


Joined: 01/06/2010
Posts: 407

Message Posted:
28/11/2011 02:01

Are they Blunt Nose Vipers Jack?

I walk up in the hills when I am out there and where it is dusty I see the tracks of plenty of snakes... thankfully have not seen any snakes thus far, just the tracks. I did see a fully grown BNV crossing the track about 50 mtrs from my place, I went over it in the car, didn't squash it though.

I know they have their place; and in truth we have built villas in their back-yard, but I am not comfortable knowing they are around and about to be honest.

henrik



Joined: 01/10/2009
Posts: 314

Message Posted:
28/11/2011 20:50

hi all, mail me for an 3mb pdf file - its in turkish but it has all snakes of cyprus in it. a few more than on the great page mentioned above..

best regards



henrik

h.personn@hp-energy.com

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
29/11/2011 18:45

http://cyprusgardener.blogspot.com/2011/06/snakes-of-cyprus-be-aware-but-not.html



Description of the snakes of Cyprus found on the link

Becker


Joined: 13/11/2011
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
29/11/2011 19:50

Another dead un today on road to Serba in Alsancak.Def coin snake 50/60cm long.

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
30/11/2011 15:40

Should have gone into hibernation rather than risk those risky roads

joef55


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
04/12/2011 06:42

It's amazing the number that get killed trying to get across roads