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Mamushi (Japan Pit Viper) (Courtesy of Center for Natural Environment Education, Nara University of Education) Yamakagashi (Japanese Grass Snake) (Photo taken during mountain walk) Aodaisho (Japan Rat Snake) (Photo taken during mountain walk) Aodaisho (Japan Rat Snake) (Photo taken in neighbor's field)

A: Two poisonous snakes can be found in Fujino (and by extension, most of Japan); the mamushi (Agkistrodon blomhoffii blomhoffii), a Japanese pit viper, and the yamakagashi or Japanese Grass Snake (habdrophis tigrinus tigrinus), a docile and non-aggressive snake, but one that carries a neurotoxin in its hip-pocket. Our cat Annie deftly caught a mamushi two years ago, and tried to drag it into the house, but my wife demured. The snake was apparently not dead, because it disappeared from our porch an hour later, even though the cats were inside by then. The yamakagashi are pretty snakes that grow rather large—in July, 2001, I saw one nearly two meters long on the hill just above our house. They are shy and—so I've been told—rarely bite anyone, even if handled. But if they do bite—and chew on you—a neurotoxin delivered by the back teeth is potentially lethal. "Do you feel lucky today . . .?" I have no original photos of a mamushi, yet, but the yamakagashi photo is of one I saw during a mountain walk with our dog Sandy in October, 2001. It appeared to be about 70 cm long, and since its midsection looks distended, it had probably just eaten and was lying in the sun to digest. Unfortunately, the lighting was dim under the bushes and I was in a bit of a hurry, so the photo has slight camera shake (or misfocus). A closeup photo of another specimen can be found at Center for Natural Environment Education, Nara University of Education). I've added a couple more photos at the bottom left--these are of the common aodaishô or "Japanese rat snake" (Elaphe climacophora). This species is said to be the largest snake in Japan, ranging up to 2.5 meters in length. They feed on bird's eggs and small animals—and they're not poisonous. The first one I estimated to be about 1.5 meters long, and the second one was 2 meters. I was able to hold the camera about 20 cm away from its head to get the closeup. Note: More photos and Japanese-language information about the snakes can be found through the indicated links to the Center for Natural Environment Education, Nara University of Education. The site is in Japanese and visitors must have the proper software to display the Japanese characters, but the photos should visible to anyone. To return to your previous location, use your browser's "BACK" button, or click your heels together three times while saying, "there's no place like home" . . .

Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township
by Norman Havens nhavens@gol.com
Updated: June 18, 2006

URL: http://www2.gol.com/users/nhavens/htmlfile/snakes-e.html/