Vipera berus in northern Bavaria

[Harry Wölfel]

In northern Bavaria I live right their where the Franconian Switzerland meets the foothills of the Fichtelgebirge. Perhaps this moutain area ´Fichtelgebirge´ can translated as ´Spruce Mountains´. The second highest peak is the Ochsenkopf (engl.: Bull Head?) and perhaps the largest population of Vipera berus in Bavaria lives here. But incidentally, many other nice animals can be discovered there, too.
Here are some photos from one of my last trip in June to the Fichtelgebirge:

A juvenile Zootoca vivipara

A green huntsman spider Micrommata virescens

A basking femal Vipera berus

The same Vipera berus on the way

and stopped on the run

A blue lacewing Chrysopa perla

A pregnant female Zootoca vivipara. Note the slight green tint.

I almost overlooked the male Vipera berus

The male Vipera berus closer

Hope I can return soon to the field and look for reptiles.
Regards
Harry

[Andre Schmid]

Nice adders

[Mario Schweiger]

Very nice berus there!
Although I live close to the Bavarian border, I only have visited some places in Bavaria: around Berchtesgaden (Rossfeld, Königsee area). But 2010 in we dedected an unknown population out side the known distribution north of "Waginger See" http://www.fieldherping.eu/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=519

Mario

[Jürgen Gebhart]

like ther berus "in Situ" shots!

[Harry Wölfel]

It is exciting to follow the animals and observe them in their natural habitat - the more so if it is a previously unknown Popolation.
But I need to Waging almost 4 hours;) I'm by "my" adders in 20 minutes
However, today it was too cold there and especially too windy.
But if interested I can show some older photos from earlier trips to that region.

Note the center of the photo

a little closer

A basking femal Vipera berus

This photo shot my daughter

not always easy to see them

here are two adders

but there are also animals for Laura Tiemann

a beautiful male

babys are rare find

the food is also there

Zootoca from near

Hope you enjoy it.
Regards
Harry

[Daniel Bohle]

> A basking femal Vipera berus

possible that this is a male?

[Harry Wölfel]

Hi Daniel
Which picture do you mean? I assume you mean the female in the post from yesterday?
Since I'm really not sure. I had not caught the adder then.
But in the female in the picture from the post today, I'm pretty sure. It had a relatively short tail - so I think it is a female.
Regards
Harry

[Daniel Kane]

Nice berus. Are all Bavarian male that pretty?

[Daniel Bohle]

I mean this "male"
download/file.php?id=10237&mode=view
looking at the contrasty nose its a male - but this rule has proven not to be safe.
By the way, I don´t care for tail length at all

[Daniel Kane]

I mean this "male"
download/file.php?id=10237&mode=view

There seems to be a paler brown down the centre of the zigzag, although this is hard to make out due to the state of the snake. At least in my area I do not remember ever seeing a male with a paler centre to the zigzag. I think the labial scales seem too 'even coloured' (as in not enough contrast to the markings) for it to be a male although again it is hard to see with the snake being in shed which will obviously affect colours we can see. I would agree with you about the rostral colouring being an unreliable indicator of gender though - some (known) females in my area have quite contrasting patterns on the snout whereas that of some males are almost one (pale) colour.