Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Other Local Resorts & Areas => Uzumlu Discussion Forum => Topic started by: mr efes on June 29, 2009, 23:05:30 PM
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Being in turkey for a couple of years with only a few scorpion encounters i truly sh#t my pants tonight. Our dog became very agitated with something behind the mosquito net on the open front door,i then heard a hissing and couldn't believe my eyes, at first i thought it was a cobra, the snake coiled its body and arched its neck, as i said i sh#t my pants so rang me good old mate eddie from the cadianda who bravely came down and helped slave the beast. it turns out this snake called the levantine viper is the most dangerous snake in turkey, uzumlu BEWARE, eddie i owe u 1.
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i bought the yellow powder today,just put it around the perimeter of your villa and that is suppose to keep them away,it cost 15tl for 5 kilos plus a box of cemicals to mix with it to keep away the scorpians,the shop is opp the yapi market in fethiye.
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Actually mate, the Levantine Viper isn't native to Turkey. It's mainly found in India and Pakistan.
If the snake was a viper it was more than likely an Ottoman Viper - Vipera xanthina, also known as the Rock Viper or Coastal Viper and not particularly rare in the region, but nonetheless, one of the most dangerous snakes in Turkey.
http://www.1000pictures.com/view.htm?canimals/snake+fnoy-2006-05-20-095920_1280.jpg+x1280+y1024
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mr efes, it would help if you gave a description of the snake, colour etc
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it would also help if you were to change your pants......indeed if you were to leave them outside now it may save you buying the yellow powder
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Description
This is a large snake, with females reaching 214 cm in length and males growing to a similar size. However, sizes vary between different populations, with M. l. lebetina being somewhat smaller.[2]
The head is broad, triangular and distinct from the neck. The snout is rounded and blunt when viewed from above, which is why it is also called the blunt-nosed viper. The nasal and nasorostral scales are almost completely fused into a single plate, although some variation occurs.[2]
The dorsal scales are strongly keeled, except for those bordering the ventrals. M. l. lebetina usually has 146-163 ventral scales. The anal scale is single.[2]
The color pattern is less varied than one might expect from a species that is so widely distributed. The head is normally uniformly colored, although it can occasionally be marked with a dark V-shape. Dorsally, the ground color for the body can be gray, brown, beige, pinkish, olive or khaki. The pattern, if present, is darker, can be gray, bluish, rust or brown in color, and may consist of a middorsal row or double row of large spots. When two rows are present, the spots may alternate or oppose, which can produce anything from a saddled to a continuous zigzag pattern. The spots are usually brown, dark gray or black, but are sometimes red, brick, yellow or olive in color.[2]Females are usually 3 and a half feet long, while males are 5 feet long.
[edit] Common names
Blunt-nosed viper, Lebetine viper, Levant viper,[2] Levantine viper,[4], Levantine adder,[5] Kufi or Kufi viper (from Arabic), Gjursa (Russian),[2] coffin snake, Levante viper, mountain viper.[6], Gunas (from KashmiriLebetine vipers are endangered, and nothing is being done to keep their existence remaining.
[edit] Geographic range
Dagestan, Algeria, Tunisia, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Russian Caucasia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhistan, Tadzikhistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir. At one point there was also a report of this species from Yemen by Scortecci (1929). The type locality originally given was "Oriente." Mertens and Müller (1928) suggested restricting the range to "Cypern" (Cyprus).[1]
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we had an experience with a 3ft ish snake in calis last week at the back of sultans aqua park , it was jet black in colour and looked quite mean to be honest ..
Gav
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quote:
Originally posted by Gavos999
we had an experience with a 3ft ish snake in calis last week at the back of sultans aqua park , it was jet black in colour and looked quite mean to be honest ..
Gav
A black one slithered across the road in front of our bikes last week in Koca Calis. I was told it was probably a water snake and harmless. It was near the canal on frog alley.
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have seen some little ones near to our apartment but far enough away for us NOT to put it on the market and look to buy in Brid instead!
They seem to hang around by the river so assume them to be water snakes though to be fair they could be dancing snakes as they make me leap up and down whenever I see one!
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Remember this "little one" near your apartment Cavo :D
http://calis-beach.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24874&SearchTerms=snake
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A friend of ours had an altercation with one of the vipers shown in Kayakoyoldboys photo. We have had a large scorpion in the villa.On the terrace we have had quite alot of very large hairy beige spiders which we have been told are Camel spiders.Not nice beasts i can tell you they are agressive little buggers they dont run away from you. Can anyone tell us if there is anything we can do to deter them as i wont sit out at night anymore ....
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I doubt very much if they're Camel Spiders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel_Spider
They're more than likely of the Wolf Spider family. We're getting a lot of them at the moment. They're large, hairy, grey to beige and have lighter dots on their legs. We use Raid and a size 12 boot on them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_spider
I don't think you can really do anything to stop them coming into the house. If you're thinking of surrounding the house with the anti- scorpion / snake / anything creepy powder to keep them out, remember you're also keeping them in !
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We had 2 last year on our terrace and they look more like the Camel spider than the wolf spider to me.[?]
Large heavy boot does the trick and each time it's been the dogs that has first spotted them and even they backed away barking like mad.:D
None this year so far....
Fi
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Thanks for the info KKOB but they are definetely not Wolf spiders, looking at the pictures they could possibly be Wind Scorpions as they look very similar. They are a good 4 inches long so beware!!!
Just been on the internet and found that Camel Spiders are also known as Wind scorpions. So I dont know what they are.
Fi im glad you have seen them too as i think people thought we were going daft LOL.
Whatever they are they are nasty little bu**ers, The dog doesnt like them either.
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We have wolf spiders AND camel spiders in Uzumlu. But they don't last long when you have two cats.....
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If you have a scorpion problem.......get a Meercat! Watched one on the television last night devour a very large scorpion:D
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OMG my legs have just gone! I hope that those creatures are just in Uzumlu or Kaya- sorry folks but I do -if I saw anything like that in calis it would be good night vienna- seriously! The jumping spiders I can just about cope with but those are monsters. Why did I click the bl**dy link! I wont sleep now!
Yes keith I remember that little darling near to our gaff- have been very aware ever since when walking towards the bridge- however I understand theres a new cut through the club e gardens so will be going that way from now on!
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Cavfan, here's another link you shouldn't click on.... http://askville.amazon.com/bite-camel-spider-considered-deadly/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=9961156 :o
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BEAUTIFUL STONE HOUSE FOR SALE ......iM packing ! (seen the ottoman vipers in the olive groves and can cope with those - but wolf spiders and camel spiders have just sent me over the top. GOING CHEAP ....
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Its the smell of chocolate that attracts them. Calvin
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We were in Uzumlu last week and saw a very long very black and shiny snake, much to my joy. I eeked and it went away, but we had to go on and look at a part built property and the whole time instead of taking scenic photos of the view, I spent my time, snake watching.
Rumour has it, spiders really hate the smell of lavender and scorpions won't go near it. Planted some under my front and rear terrace in the hope that this is true.