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RAUK - Archived Forum - unusually marked adder

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unusually marked adder:

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axel
Member
Joined: 16 May 2006
No. of posts: 31


View other posts by axel
Posted: 16 May 2006

I came across this male adder, suveying a new location on Anglesey.  The colour was very blue, and the zig-zag was interrupted.  Just wondered if anyone else had found anything similar?


John Newton
Senior Member
Joined: 19 May 2005
No. of posts: 151


View other posts by John Newton
Posted: 17 May 2006

Hi Axel

Crackin photos of the male adder.

The bluish colouration is not too unusual, especially post-shed, and will probably not be quite so evident in days to come.

The 'bar pattern' aberration in the dorsal zig-zag is very similar to a couple of animals recorded in the Derbyshire population some time back, and I guess is within the range of patterning that might occur - sort of akin to when the bars link up longitudinally to form the 'stripey' adders. Its not too difficult to recognise a superficial resemblance to v.aspis at first glance.


John Newton

South Yorkshire ARG
-LAF
Senior Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 317


View other posts by -LAF
Posted: 17 May 2006
Funnily, the bluest Adder I've ever come across was on Anglesey at Parys Mountain.  Beautiful animal.

Lee.

Lee Fairclough
John Newton
Senior Member
Joined: 19 May 2005
No. of posts: 151


View other posts by John Newton
Posted: 17 May 2006

Hi Lee

You dont think the 'blue' colour might have had something to do with the abundance of copper oxides/chlorides present on Parys !!

Might be worth a bit of a nose around to see if more animals are similarly 'affected' - cannot really believe theres a connection, but you never know.

Cheers


John Newton

South Yorkshire ARG
Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 326


View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster
Posted: 18 May 2006
The only adder approaching this degree of blueness that I have seen was also on Anglesey, but not at Parys Mtn, and away from any mineral extraction sites (CG). I doubt it has anything to do with copper oxides in the soil, though.

Cheers,

WW
Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor
http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/
Chris Monk
Senior Member
Joined: 21 Apr 2004
No. of posts: 157


View other posts by Chris Monk
Posted: 21 May 2006
One of my recorders had a similarly blue coloured adder on the moors at the end of April, sitting next to its freshly sloughed skin. However it had the normal zig-zag marking down its back and assuming it was one of animals seen before at that hibernation emergence site it was normally coloured (ie greenish) before sloughing.
Chris
Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group
www.derbyshirearg.co.uk
Jimpklop
Senior Member
Joined: 23 May 2006
No. of posts: 200


View other posts by Jimpklop
Posted: 19 Jun 2006

Beautiful animal.

enough said.


Im Craving Adder's(www.jimpklop.moonfruit.com)
Jimpklop
Senior Member
Joined: 23 May 2006
No. of posts: 200


View other posts by Jimpklop
Posted: 15 Jul 2006
Any one seen an Adder of this colouration again?
Just out of pure interest.
Thanks
James

Im Craving Adder's(www.jimpklop.moonfruit.com)
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


View other posts by armata
Posted: 15 Jul 2006
Hi Jim,

Like each spring eh?
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Jimpklop
Senior Member
Joined: 23 May 2006
No. of posts: 200


View other posts by Jimpklop
Posted: 15 Jul 2006
Got any picture's ? Do you know if its a regional? any reported sightings close by to you? my senses tell me the one pictured is male do you know of any female with a simular colouration?
Thanks TP

Im Craving Adder's(www.jimpklop.moonfruit.com)
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


View other posts by armata
Posted: 15 Jul 2006
Not a regional thing - adders retain this intensity during the early part of the mating period - the second moult is not so vivid.
Make a date for the first moult 2007 - 1st-3rd wek in April; maybe earlier in Darzet.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Jimpklop
Senior Member
Joined: 23 May 2006
No. of posts: 200


View other posts by Jimpklop
Posted: 15 Jul 2006

Do all adders go through this?Or is is the extremity of a fresh moult?

Any pictures?

thanks

James


Im Craving Adder's(www.jimpklop.moonfruit.com)
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


View other posts by armata
Posted: 15 Jul 2006
Have just posted a new thread showing an old male; in 1980 he was much lighter and has darkened with age; in the picture he is freshly moulted. Within a male population it is the silver/gray males that retain that intensity and irridescence; you get an even amount of straw or yellowish males as well + of course the occasional black one and they look splendid when freshly moulted.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


View other posts by armata
Posted: 15 Jul 2006
sorry typo should read 1986
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Jimpklop
Senior Member
Joined: 23 May 2006
No. of posts: 200


View other posts by Jimpklop
Posted: 15 Jul 2006

Yea I've heard of them darkening with age.

Maybe having a blone moment but I cant see how that explains a blue one?

Sorry


Im Craving Adder's(www.jimpklop.moonfruit.com)
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


View other posts by armata
Posted: 15 Jul 2006
Tis a trick of the light me friend
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Jimpklop
Senior Member
Joined: 23 May 2006
No. of posts: 200


View other posts by Jimpklop
Posted: 15 Jul 2006
Really?
Im Craving Adder's(www.jimpklop.moonfruit.com)

- unusually marked adder

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