Sharp-tailed Snakes in Oregon

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Posted by Richard F. Hoyer on April 18, 2002 at 18:12:45:

For those of you in Oregon that come across Sharp-tailed Snakes, I wish to continue recording additional locality records for the species in this state. The species has black and white 'convict bars' on the entire ventral surface and a pointed spine at the tip of the tail. The dorsal surface is a dingy gray or gray-brown with a pinkish hue often with two faint dorsolateral (upper sides) pinkish stripes most prominant at the neck region. The Sharptail is our smallest species, seldom exceeding 12 inches in Oregon. Please record when and where you found the specimen(s) and then post on this forum or contact me via email (charinabottae@earthlink.net). It would be desired that you maintain the specimen until I can verify the ID.

The Common Sharptailed Snake is known to occur in the following counties: Yamhill, Polk, Benton, Lane, Linn, Douglas, Josephine, and Jackson plus Wasco County on the east side of Mt. Hood. There is one sighting in Clackamas County (West Linn area) that needs confirming. Because of habitat association, it quite possibly occurs in Klamath, Hood River, and Washington Counties so sightings in those areas are especially important. There are very few records for Lane and Linn Counties as well so sightings there are important. The species has yet to be documented in Marion County.

The new species or Forest Sharp-tailed Snake is currently known from Curry, Coos, and Douglas County. This species of Sharptail has an extremely long, slender tail in comparion to the Common Sharp-tailed Snake. The species is found in mountainous or hilly, forested habitats (openings in forest habitats) mainly in the southwest corner of the state (west of I-5) but also has been confirmed to occur in the lower reaches of the Cascades in Douglas County. I am confident the species occurs in Jackson County (western part), Josephine, and Lane Counties. There is some chance the species occurs further north in both the coast and Cascade ranges.

I will be gone from 8 to 21 days beginning tomorrow, 4/19 but any email messages I received will all be answered when I return.
Richard F. Hoyer

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I would love to help....... KevinS 05/03/02 (1)
- Re: I would love to help....... Richard F. Hoyer 05/10/02 (0)

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: For those of you in Oregon that come across Sharp-tailed Snakes, I wish to continue recording additional locality records for the species in this state. The species has black and white 'convict bars' on the entire ventral surface and a pointed spine at the tip of the tail. The dorsal surface is a dingy gray or gray-brown with a pinkish hue often with two faint dorsolateral (upper sides) pinkish stripes most prominant at the neck region. The Sharptail is our smallest species, seldom exceeding 12 inches in Oregon. Please record when and where you found the specimen(s) and then post on this forum or contact me via email (charinabottae@earthlink.net). It would be desired that you maintain the specimen until I can verify the ID. : : The Common Sharptailed Snake is known to occur in the following counties: Yamhill, Polk, Benton, Lane, Linn, Douglas, Josephine, and Jackson plus Wasco County on the east side of Mt. Hood. There is one sighting in Clackamas County (West Linn area) that needs confirming. Because of habitat association, it quite possibly occurs in Klamath, Hood River, and Washington Counties so sightings in those areas are especially important. There are very few records for Lane and Linn Counties as well so sightings there are important. The species has yet to be documented in Marion County. : The new species or Forest Sharp-tailed Snake is currently known from Curry, Coos, and Douglas County. This species of Sharptail has an extremely long, slender tail in comparion to the Common Sharp-tailed Snake. The species is found in mountainous or hilly, forested habitats (openings in forest habitats) mainly in the southwest corner of the state (west of I-5) but also has been confirmed to occur in the lower reaches of the Cascades in Douglas County. I am confident the species occurs in Jackson County (western part), Josephine, and Lane Counties. There is some chance the species occurs further north in both the coast and Cascade ranges. : I will be gone from 8 to 21 days beginning tomorrow, 4/19 but any email messages I received will all be answered when I return. : Richard F. Hoyer : :

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