Hedge Basking 2010

This is a melanistic adder basking on top of a fern hedge in the Forest of Dean. Melanism is caused from an increase in dark pigment.
Although this adder is melanistic, there are still white scales around the mouth, so it is not completely melanistic like the adders in the far north of the country.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• adder
• snake
• wildlife
• nature
• forest of dean
• robin ward
• vipera berus
• reptile
• melanistic

[MrReggub]

Well captured Rob, may catch you out and about sometime soon, gardening demands must reduce soon, I hope :-)

[Bothrops01]

@MrReggub  That would be nice Mike. Take it easy!

[bar77FUL]

What does melanistic mean?

[Bothrops01]

@bar77FUL . Melanistic or melanism means that there is a increase in dark pigments, which affects the colour of the animal. Sometimes it is so extreme that the animal is completely black.

It is the opposite of Albinism (pure white).

[benwaddams]

Could you get a more perfect serpent spot...I think not! Great vid Rob, keep up the good work - am loving the others too :)

Ben

[Bothrops01]

@benwaddams Thanks Ben. As you can imagine, I have taken quite a few photographs of this snake also.

I am in the middle of creating a feature for BBC Gloucestershire online (Nature), which is to feature photographs of this snake. It should be live in the next few days.

Rob

[chainsawbeks]

I didnt realise they could be different colours - I would probably have panicked and thought someones pet had escaped!! :$