David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
____________________________________________________
Reptiles 4 – Adders
ADDER Vipera
berus berus (m)
ADDER Vipera berus berus (f)
- The Adder Vipera berus berus
is the only poisonous British reptile. Human fatalities from Adder bites
are exceptionally rare and these handsome snakes generally avoid contact
with humans. Male Adders are much smaller than females and their colour
differences are evident in these photographs. Individual animals may be
recognised by the markings on the tops of their heads and photography of
this area is therefore a useful method of recording their differences in
the field. The forked tongue is a highly sensitive organ with a large surface
area and the snake periodically tastes the air in order to detect prey or
potential danger.
- David’s films of Adders (and other
British reptiles and amphibians) may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0Nodlcvlf7oYAJgJo8k7pHJ-A.
- With thanks to Maurice Drake of Wellset Repro Ltd.: info@flipsideweb.co.uk for providing the scanned images.
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