Snake?

[p.penn]

I went for a walk in the woods today and saw something on the footpath. At first I thought it was a large slug, but then I noticed it had a snake like head with a spot on the top, and it was slightly raised as if to strike. At the rear end there was quite a lot of emerald green foam. Do you think it was half a snake? Are they full of green foam? Which snake was it?

[Richard]

Ooo, interesting.

This is a Grass Snake under my rubber mat, ringed neck..



Could be a big Slow Worm, the ones in my Garden are over a foot long.

An Adder is quite small and very patterned.

Anyone else ideas ?

[lancashire lass]

At first I thought it was a large slug

even the largest slug couldn't be mistaken for a small snake. I'm wondering if you saw an Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar? They grow quite big and fat and rival the largest slug in size, have scary "eye spots" on their big heads and I know a few people have been reporting seeing them at the moment. And most insect "blood" is green not red so that might explain the green foam?

[p.penn]

No LL - it definitely wasn't one of those. The nose looked snake like with a sort of ostrich eye on the top of its head, between where ears would be. I wish I'd taken a photo, but I was more concerned with not being attacked by it or scaring it. It was clearly in the defence position. Like a rattlesnake when it comes outbof a basket only 4" long!

And no, I hadn't been drinking

[p.penn]

Ps Richard. Definitely not a grass snake bit wasn't that scaley

[Richard]

The Hawk Moth Caterpillar?

Daily Mail Article on things which make themselves look like snakes



Richard

[p.penn]

Oooh, that may be it! It looked like a dumpy rubber snake, but the spot on its head was like a butterfly marking!

[Richard]

Speculation, but that could be the difference between a male and a female.

The case continues !

Richard