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Do adders eat slow worms?: |
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Rick Hodges Krag Committee Joined: 13 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 9  View other posts by Rick Hodges |
Posted: 13 Apr 2005 Hi I am monitoring an adder site where there is also a very significant slow worm population. Adders and slow worms can be found under the same refuges and seem 'at home' together. There are also common lizards on site, I have seen these under the same refuges as slow worms but not with adders, in fact the common lizards seem to be spaced out away from where I generally see adders. The close, even relaxed, association between adders and slow worms makes me wonder whether adders really do prey on them as claimed in a few texts. The curved smooth shiny surfaces of slow worms and their armour plating of osteoderms must make them difficult for an adder to bite into. Would be grateful to hear of your personal or second-hand observations of slow worms in adder diet.
Rick Hodges |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 13 Apr 2005 Rick, On the East Devon Commons I have often seen slow worms under tins with adders present. They weren't exactly snuggled up together but close enough for the adders to grab a slow worm if they'd wanted to. Interestingly I have never seen a common lizard on or under a tin but maybe this is because tins are placed away from path/track edges that lizards seem to prefer. Speaking of bed-fellows I have a compost heap in the garden dedicated to slow worms and 3 years ago a grass snake arrived. I was worried as this was at the time of year the slow worm babies were born. However I would often find the grass snake, several slow worms and babies all lying close together. The slow worm babies never decreased in number so not attractive to the snake.
Suz |
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Rick Hodges Krag Committee Joined: 13 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by Rick Hodges |
Posted: 18 Apr 2005 Suz Many thanks for your very interesting reply. With respect to how close together adders and slow worms are found under refuges, my statement was a little misleading. While slow worms can be found literally on top of each other, I have always found adders and slow worms to be at least a short distance apart (as you do) although might move towards each other when disturbed. In Kent, common lizards are quite frequently observed both under and on refuges (but as I mentioned I have not observed them where adders are present under a refuge). Your observation that a grass snake showed no predatory interest in slow worm adults and young suggests that slow worms may be of little interest to snakes generally. I wonder if smooth snake will take slow worms? Has anyone out there got any clues on that? Rick
Rick Hodges |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 18 Apr 2005 Adders feed on slow worms, adults and young, on a regular basis. Neo adders I have sen with neo slow worms hanging out of their mouths. A 650mm female adder at Furzebrook regurgitated a large gravid slow worm in 2003. Adders and slow worm often share the same refugia. I have lifted tin on a couple of occassions with all three sp of snake + slow worm under. Smooth snakes of course feed regular on slow worms. However, a male smooth snake at Furzebrook has shared the same tin with a large male slow worm for about five years. I have never had a record of an adder eating a sand lizard - but I suppose they must especially the imm lizards - anyone got any records?? T |
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Julian Member Joined: 19 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 1 View other posts by Julian |
Posted: 19 Apr 2005 Hi, I have also found adders and slow worms together hiding under the same piece of tin or carpet but not a lizard and an adder. I once found a young adder under a piece of wood, which was trying to swallow an adult common lizard, which with a struggle it succeeded.
Julian Julian |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 21 Apr 2005 I have had Common Lizards sharing the same tins as Adders but cannot ever remember seeing any animals eating each other under any tins I have lifted and I have lifted many. I think I have had all combinations possible under the tins but probably only because I have surveyed areas where all 6 reptiles are relatively common. I have seen an Adder eating a large Slow worm in moss and bramble, the Slow worm was trying to back out and I wondered what was going on until the head of the Adder appeared on the other end of the Slow worm, the Slow worm was alive all the time until swallowed completely so presumably had not been envenomated or at least not effectively. David British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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Rick Hodges Krag Committee Joined: 13 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 9 View other posts by Rick Hodges |
Posted: 29 Apr 2005 Tony, Julian and David Many thanks for your interesting contributions, you have added significantly to my knowledge of adder feeding habits. Am still wondering why slow worms don't seem to be worried by the presence of adders - perhaps they are but when I see them they are keeping very still !! Rick
Rick Hodges |
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herpfan Member Joined: 17 Mar 2005 No. of posts: 6 View other posts by herpfan |
Posted: 11 May 2005 or possibly whenever your observations of addershave been made the adders haven't long fed. my initial thoughts on why the slow worms dont appear wary of the adders is simply that there is simply competition for limited areas of suitability. 1.0 albino black ratsnake - roland 1.0 hybrid ratsnake - rizzo 0.1 royal python - senga 0.1 shield mantis - julie 0.1 ornate flying snake - bitey |
- Do adders eat slow worms? |