Some years ago (early on in the COG blitz days) I watched a Brown Snake
investigating tunnels of (I believe) Bee-eater nests near Gigerline or Angle
Crossing near Tharwa. The birds were in the vicinity but not attending the
nests whilst the snake was there. It moved along the bank going forward quite
deliberately from one nest to the next, maybe 5 or so whilst I watched. It went
in each tunnel maybe a third to half its body length and then pulled out as I
recall backwards. I did not think of it as a problem but the snake had no
difficulty that I could see in doing this. I can not recall whether the going
in was quicker than the reverse. The soil there is very sandy and it would be
hard to imagine something as flexible as a snake getting stuck.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Rod Mackay
Sent: Sunday, 17 December, 2017 11:15 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] A question I have been asked (reptile related)
Several years ago I reported on the chat line an encounter I witnessed
between a red-bellied black snake and an eel in a soak at South Durras.
To cut a long story short, the snake ultimately won out, and having
subdued the eel, reversed along the bank of the water to a dryer
location, where it proceeded to swallow its prey. A fascinating
experience, glistening red and black coils flashing in the sunlight as
the snake struck, once seen not forgotten, especially the bit where it
crawled backward!
Cheers
Rod
On 17/12/2017 5:38 PM, Damian Lettoof wrote:
> Hey all,
>
>
> As a snake ecologist I can confirm snake can reverse, to a certain
> extent. As Shorty and Martin suggested really tight holes, or surfaces
> which may snag their ventral scales can prevent from doing so. But in
> their normal environment they definitely go backwards! They're very
> flexible and capable of micromoving their muscles all around their
> bodies so to go backwards they simply push their muscles in the opposite
> direction, and if need be they can slightly lift the outside edge of
> their ventral scales over what may snag it. It's a slow movement but
> possible. Also if any rear part of their bodies can grab hold of
> something they can use it as an anchor to pull them backwards.
>
>
> Hope that helps 😊
>
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> DAMIAN LETTOOF | Wildlife Ecologist
>
> 56 Irvine St
> Watson | ACT | 2780 | Australia
>
> +61 401 638 351
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Martin Butterfield <>
> *Sent:* Sunday, 17 December 2017 4:20:26 PM
> *To:* John Leonard
> *Cc:* COG List
> *Subject:* Re: [canberrabirds] A question I have been asked (reptile
> related)
>
> I suspect the answer would depend on just how tight the hole is.
>
> Certainly they get into big trouble if they try to reverse on bird
> netting as the scales don't let them reverse. I suspect in a really
> tight hole they could get stuck in the same way.
>
> Martin Butterfield
> http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>
> On 17 December 2017 at 16:08, John Leonard <
> <>> wrote:
>
> I have an undeserved reputation at work as a natural history expert.
> Here's one I have been asked: can a snake reverse, that is if it
> goes down a narrow hole where it can't turn round, can it come out
> backwards?
>
> John Leonard
>
>
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