Black in blue

[Jürgen Gebhart]

I was out in a bog this morning. I never was there before. It`s in the neighbourhood of the bog that I visited 4 Weeks ago. Between these bogs are a little Village and a needle wood Forest.
I found a natrix natrix, a few Zootaca vivipara, some Rana temporaria froglets and two Pelophlayx.
On the Way back to the car I found a black berus in blue.

way.jpg

berus 1.jpg

berus 2.jpg

Berus 3.jpg

On the Way home I made a 15 Minutes break at the River Lech. I see this area always when I drove in other areas or in Vacation, but never stopped before.
I saw a Anguis fragilis and this – I was sure for 98 % but that`s not enough!

unbenannt1a.jpg

[Mario Schweiger]

Nice pictures!
I love the black berus with its sky blue belly.
Unfortunately this will stay only for a few days and not the vipers life long!

Last image:
I´m also 98% sure what it is. But, as you wrote: That´s not enough

Mario

[Grégoire Meier]

Very nice!

[Ilian Velikov]

Great photos! The snake is really beautiful!

Mario, why are they blue only for a while?
I found a bluish Abguis fragilis this weekend viewtopic.php?f=13&t=164 The blue color isn't pigment actually but the upper most transparent part of the scales, which reflects the light and makes the animal look blue. That can be proved by photographing such animals wit ha flash light! I did that with the slow worm and on that photo (with flash) it has a normal gray-brownish color. Is the case with the snake the same or...?

Ilian

[Jürgen Gebhart]

Ilian, the snake is in blue mean it is ready for shed the skin. The blue belly is like the greyblue eyes, after sheding the belly is brown or creme colored.

[Ilian Velikov]

Thank you Jurgen, I got it! I knew about the eyes but didn't know they turn blue!..So is "my" slow worm about to change skin,too ?

About your last image - Yes,98 % is not enough but why don't you say what's your guess! I'm thinking of Coronella !?

[Jürgen Gebhart]

I`m not sure about the slow worm but I think it`s possible.

Yes you are right, it was a Coronella. I checked that with Gloves!