V. berus berus black juvenile

[Mario Schweiger]

Most of them, or just some of them?

For example: on a Carinthian Alp, all babies are born nearly ( ~95 % black = very, very dark) black.
On the neighboring ones, east and west, all all them are born brown and change within the first 2 or 3 years.

[Berislav Horvatic]

For example: on a Carinthian Alp, all babies are born nearly ( ~95 % black = very, very dark) black.
On the neighboring ones, east and west, all of them are born brown and change within the first 2 or 3 years.

Thanks, chief. But this is not common knowledge, and I'd bet that most of the people will hear of this for the first time.
Published anywhere?

[Mario Schweiger]

unfortunately njet
I've been there in the seventies. eighties and beginning of nineties, and didnt even take pictures
But all seen youngsters (from same year) have been (nearly) black.

But - as far as I remember, there is a publication on the same topic (but not from Austria, I think).
will try to find out and give the link (but please, be patient, I have a lot of NOTherpetological work at the time)

[Berislav Horvatic]

I've been there in the seventies. eighties and beginning of nineties, and didnt even take pictures
But all seen youngsters (from same year) have been (nearly) black.

Anyhow, Mario, thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with us. And may I repeat that, in this particular case, it is NOT
common knowlege, on the contrary, it's rather a surprise. That's why I actually wonder why nobody reacted to something
like that.

But - as far as I remember, there is a publication on the same topic (but not from Austria, I think).
will try to find out and give the link (but please, be patient, I have a lot of NOTherpetological work at the time)

I will be patient, as always.

[Mario Schweiger]

Here is one, but I think thats not the one, I was thinking about
http://www.vipersgarden.at/PDF_files/PDF-1650.pdf