Thanks Mario.
Here is a male vs male "relationship". One male is "normal" coloured, the other one is straw yellow and fainted striped.
They went on "duelling" even when I had the both in my hands for some pictures (it was impossible in other way because the were hidden inside deep gras and bushes).
- Very healthy and beautiful specimens! The straw yellow one was wonderful.
- Notice the darker male which pushes its chin on the back of the yellow male...
In the same area (province of Alessandria) I once found a DOR baby aesculapian which was very pale in colour, straw yellow in contrast to the more usual yellow-brownish colour...
In recent years I've no longer found aesculapian snakes there. Very sorry...