David Element's Wildlife Web Page Reptiles 1

David Element

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

_ __________ _____________________________ Reptiles 1 – Adders

ADDER Vipera berus (f)

Adders Vipera berus berus are quite beautifully marked and it may be possible to identify some individuals in the wild from the variations in their patterns. The species is sexually dimorphic. Males are generally pale grey with black zigzag markings whereas the ground colour of the larger females tends to be olive-brown (see above) and there is a lesser degree of contrast with the darker scales. These venomous snakes are naturally shy of humans and will retreat if disturbed so the risk of being bitten is comparatively small unless they are provoked or handled without protective equipment. Wearing trousers and walking boots will offer good protection if walking in areas that they are known to frequent. If bitten medical attention should be sought as soon as possible and the affected limb splinted or immobilised. Adder bites are painful but only rarely lethal.

· David’s films of British reptiles and amphibians may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0Nodlcvlf7oYAJgJo8k7pHJ-A.

Publications:

David has published a 21 x 28cm high quality full colour hardback book 'In My Natural Element...Amphibians and Reptiles'. See: https://www.bobbooks.co.uk/bookshop/search/1/15/45089.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCES:

'Amphibians and Reptiles of Surrey', Julia Wycherley MBE and Richard Anstis, Surrey Wildlife Trust 2001, ISBN 0 9526065 6 9 - see: http://www.surreywildlifetrust.co.uk/ for further information about the Surrey Wildlife Atlas series.

'Snakes and Lizards', Tom Langton, Whittet Books, 1989, ISBN 0 9054837 7 4

'Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe', Paul Morrison, Macmillan 1994. ISBN 0 333 62998 1

'Amphibians and Reptiles - a Natural History of the British Herpetofauna', Trevor Beebee and Richard Griffiths, The New Naturalist Series, HarperCollins, 2000, ISBN 0 0022008 4 8

'Collins Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe', E Arnold, J Burton and D Ovenden, HarperCollins, ISBN 0 0021931 8 3

'Britain's Reptiles and Amphibians' Howard Inns, WILDGuides (http://www.wildguides.co.uk), 2009 ISBN 978-190365725-6. A wonderfully illustrated, concise and informative reference work that every British herpetologist ought to have on their bookshelves.

‘Field Guide to the Amphibians & Reptiles of Britain and Europe’, Jeroen Speybroeck, Wouter Beukema, Bobby Bok, Jan Van Der Voort, Ilian Velikov, Bloomsbury Natural History, 2016 ISBN 978-1-4729-3533-5

'British Wildlife', British Wildlife Publishing, ISSN 0958-0956 contains regular amphibians and reptiles reports

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES:

http://www.hylawerkgroep.be/jeroen/ links to Jeroen Speybroeck's 'Herpetofauna of Europe' pages (wonderful photographs for identifying European reptiles and amphibians).

The Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG) have produced an informative website at: http://surrey-arg.org.uk/ . This site is very nicely illustrated and it should prove to be a very useful source of information about British Amphibians and Reptiles.

And for an interesting personal account by Geoff Jones, Rural Affairs Officer, East Devon District Council of the effects of Adder venom: http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/the1.htm.

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