Colour variations by Asp vipers (Switzerland)

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Colour variations by Asp vipers (Switzerland)

Postby Guillaume Gomard » Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:49 pm

From concolor to melanic forms, Asp vipers can display a great variety of colours and patterns, and this is why finding those snakes in the wild is always exciting. Last week, I had the occasion to spend few days around the city of Sion (Switzerland). The valley in which this city is located as well as the ones in the canton of Valais is inhabited by several populations of Vipera aspis, which can present really different and amazing patterns (See for instance the pictures by Yves Brunelli or Grégoire Meier).

I made my observations between 9 and 12 a.m, at different places but always at an evelation of about 1500m (in the valleys, the vipers have been out since more than one month). It was really sunny and the temperature reached 25°C in the afternoon, so I preferred to go herping in the morning. Enough for the introduction, let’s have a look to the pictures ;) .


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This is the kind of place I investigated to find vipers

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Here and there, one can find squirrels which are pretty apprehensive

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Piece of molt found at 1500m and belonging to a Vipera aspis

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My first Asp viper, catching the first sun rays of the day (this picture was taken at 10 a.m)

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As can be seen, the brownish pattern, which almost consists of dots, is fading out

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Close-up of its head I

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Close-up of its head II

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Evidence of the presence of reptiles, close to a low wall

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This area is also the playground of lizards. Above is a Western Green Lizard on the look-out

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Portrait of the same Lacerta bilineata

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Another Western Green Lizard, quietly basking in the sun at 2 p.m

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Second Asp viper with a more “usual” pattern, found in the same valley as the first one (picture taken at 12 a.m)

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Close-up of its head I

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Close-up of its head II

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2 meters from there, a third Vipera aspis was lying in the grass…

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Close-up of its head I

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Close-up of its head II

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The last area I investigated was a mountain lake, known to be the home of melanic Vipera aspis

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Early in the morning, I found my first black Asp viper

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Same specimen I

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Same specimen II

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During my quest for melanic Vipera aspis, I also encountered several Natrix natrix (juvenile and adult specimens) moving along the lake or as it is the case here, feigning death in front of my camera.

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Finally, not far from a hiking trail, a viper was lurking in the moss

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Same specimen

********************************************

Guillaume
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Re: Colour variations by Asp vipers (Switzerland)

Postby Paul Lambourne » Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:18 pm

Guillaume, stunning pictures, the Melanistic animal in particular is amazing. I have seen asp vipers in the Tescino area of Switzerland, particularly, Chironico and Cresciano, is this close to your area?

Kind regards

Paul
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Re: Colour variations by Asp vipers (Switzerland)

Postby Mario Schweiger » Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:58 am

Guillaume,
happy to see such nice asps!
I will be in "Berner Oberland" at the 3rd weekend of May. Hope to find also some really nice ones!

Mario
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Please visit also my personal Herp-site vipersgarden.at
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Re: Colour variations by Asp vipers (Switzerland)

Postby Jürgen Gebhart » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:03 am

What a scuccessful trip! Congrats!!
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Re: Colour variations by Asp vipers (Switzerland)

Postby Guillaume Gomard » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:38 am

Thanks for your comments.

I have seen asp vipers in the Tescino area of Switzerland, particularly, Chironico and Cresciano, is this close to your area?


Sion is approximately at 140km to the west of Cresciano and about at 3h by car. Ticino is also a great place to find Asp vipers, that's for sure!
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Re: Colour variations by Asp vipers (Switzerland)

Postby Bobby Bok » Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:15 pm

Very nice, beautiful scenery as well.
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