Colour variations by Asp vipers (Switzerland)
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:49 pmFrom 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
.
This is the kind of place I investigated to find vipers
Here and there, one can find squirrels which are pretty apprehensive
Piece of molt found at 1500m and belonging to a Vipera aspis
My first Asp viper, catching the first sun rays of the day (this picture was taken at 10 a.m)
As can be seen, the brownish pattern, which almost consists of dots, is fading out
Close-up of its head I
Close-up of its head II
Evidence of the presence of reptiles, close to a low wall
This area is also the playground of lizards. Above is a Western Green Lizard on the look-out
Portrait of the same Lacerta bilineata
Another Western Green Lizard, quietly basking in the sun at 2 p.m
Second Asp viper with a more “usual” pattern, found in the same valley as the first one (picture taken at 12 a.m)
Close-up of its head I
Close-up of its head II
2 meters from there, a third Vipera aspis was lying in the grass…
Close-up of its head I
Close-up of its head II
The last area I investigated was a mountain lake, known to be the home of melanic Vipera aspis
Early in the morning, I found my first black Asp viper
Same specimen I
Same specimen II
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.
Finally, not far from a hiking trail, a viper was lurking in the moss
Same specimen
********************************************
Guillaume
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
.This is the kind of place I investigated to find vipers
Here and there, one can find squirrels which are pretty apprehensive
Piece of molt found at 1500m and belonging to a Vipera aspis
My first Asp viper, catching the first sun rays of the day (this picture was taken at 10 a.m)
As can be seen, the brownish pattern, which almost consists of dots, is fading out
Close-up of its head I
Close-up of its head II
Evidence of the presence of reptiles, close to a low wall
This area is also the playground of lizards. Above is a Western Green Lizard on the look-out
Portrait of the same Lacerta bilineata
Another Western Green Lizard, quietly basking in the sun at 2 p.m
Second Asp viper with a more “usual” pattern, found in the same valley as the first one (picture taken at 12 a.m)
Close-up of its head I
Close-up of its head II
2 meters from there, a third Vipera aspis was lying in the grass…
Close-up of its head I
Close-up of its head II
The last area I investigated was a mountain lake, known to be the home of melanic Vipera aspis
Early in the morning, I found my first black Asp viper
Same specimen I
Same specimen II
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.
Finally, not far from a hiking trail, a viper was lurking in the moss
Same specimen
********************************************
Guillaume