Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

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Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Tom Hoogesteger » Wed May 16, 2012 2:51 pm

Last sunday I went herping in Helsinki. I went to a place in the outskirts of the city, where fellow forum member Joel had found some adders last year, including a gorgeous, black specimen.
After arriving at the site and couple of minutes of looking around, I saw this:
IMG_3413_mod_small.jpg


The snakes disappeared very fast, so I sat still and waited. One of them came back within a few minutes.
IMG_3426_mod_small.jpg


I was more interested in the black one, however.
After a long time of waiting, my patience was finally rewarded. The black one appeared, and revealed his true identity... :shock:
IMG_3461_m_small.jpg

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This was a lucky surprise I did not expect! The grass snake is not common at all in Helsinki, not to mention a color variety like this!
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Rok Grzelj » Wed May 16, 2012 2:56 pm

WOW....I already saw melanistic natrix....but this one :shock:
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Mario Schweiger » Wed May 16, 2012 2:58 pm

Nice snakes.
I´m disappointed, to have this white-black males not here in my area.
Also the black Natrix natrix looks very fine!
Congrats

Mario
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Please visit also my personal Herp-site vipersgarden.at
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Wed May 16, 2012 2:59 pm

Good stuff!

Mario Schweiger wrote:I´m disappointed, to have this white-black males not here in my area.

And again, Belgium agrees :cry:
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Andre Schmid » Wed May 16, 2012 3:18 pm

Great Findings ! Hard decision to say who is my favorite :) Both are great looking animals !
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Tom Hoogesteger » Wed May 16, 2012 4:07 pm

I found them again the next day.
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IMG_3492_m_s.jpg

IMG_3498_m_s.jpg
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Wed May 16, 2012 4:19 pm

Even nicer! Looks like they're having a little chat, before the adder moves along...
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Rok Grzelj » Wed May 16, 2012 4:27 pm

Maybe he is a young unexperienced male...fooled by the color!?...or maybe he is just looking for something else ;)
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Tom Hoogesteger » Wed May 16, 2012 5:06 pm

Rok Grzelj wrote:...or maybe he is just looking for something else ;)

Yes, what he was looking for was this pretty, little female.
IMG_3502_s.jpg


There were a number of males, all driven crazy by this female, moving around very actively
IMG_3420_s.jpg

IMG_3421_s.jpg

IMG_3423_s.jpg


Only the grass snake didn't really care. :D
IMG_3455_s.jpg


Jeroen Speybroeck wrote:
Mario Schweiger wrote:I´m disappointed, to have this white-black males not here in my area.

Belgium agrees :cry:


Then how do your local male adders look like in spring after shedding?
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Re: Snakes in Helsinki, Finland

Postby Andre Schmid » Wed May 16, 2012 6:56 pm

Great !
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