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Adders odancingo in Derbyshire: |
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PRATTST1 Member Joined: 08 Jul 2003 No. of posts: 4  View other posts by PRATTST1 |
Posted: 11 Feb 2004
I was talking to a friend the other day and he said that adders have never been recorded 'dancing' in Derbyshire. Does anybody know the reason for this? I would be grateful if anybody could shed any light on this for me Steve Pratt STEVE P |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 11 Feb 2004 Hi Steve, This is a rarely observed part of a male adders life! Early in the season males establish a territory and will defend it agianst other males. When they meet another male the dance or duel begins, both males rising up and trying to push the other to the ground, usually the larger of the two will win and the smaller retreats. There's one of Tony Phelp's pictures of this behaviour here: http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/adder.htm I'm sure Tony will fill you in on more of the details of adder territorial behaviour. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Geoff Simpson Member Joined: 11 Feb 2004 No. of posts: 12 View other posts by Geoff Simpson |
Posted: 11 Feb 2004 Steve The reason why male adders in the Peak District (Derbyshire) have been never recorded dancing despite years of observation. Is believed to be because the male population at the only site in Derbyshire is out weighed by as many as 6:1 by females. (lucky male adders) Maybe there is no need to combat (dance) when females are thick on the ground. Regards Geoff |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 11 Feb 2004 ooops thanks for that Geoff, I read that as 'had been seen', not 'never been seen', thought it was a little early in the season I wonder if those kind of sex ratio's appear at any other sites? Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 03 Mar 2004 Hi Geoff, Am really interested re this skewed sex ratio, the reason. At one urban site nr Bournemouth one sub-population on a 45ha site has a skewed ration where the females outnumber the males 4:1. I hazard the probabality that early spring fires would effect the more exposed males. Females here grow to large size 70cm-84cm. It would be interesting to know a bit more about the Derbyshire females. Male combat varies widely from site to site and is dependant on number of breeding females, the density of the population, and size and age structure of males. Combat exists at various levels from short skirmishes to prolonged 'dancing' up to 20mins between larger males. Tony Phelps |
- Adders odancingo in Derbyshire |
