That is a seriously stunning series of photos - I didn't know they were viviparous so I have learned something as well as seeing stunning photos - thank you!
Birth of an adder
- Thread starter Harvestman
- Start date
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Elen Sentier
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I'm soooooooooooooo envious 
, you lucky so-n-so . That's stunning, shall go and fave it on Flickr. Would like to see that hillfort too. Good girl and good little lady/chap ... no idea how you tell, and at that age! ... I love the expression.
, you lucky so-n-so . That's stunning, shall go and fave it on Flickr. Would like to see that hillfort too. Good girl and good little lady/chap ... no idea how you tell, and at that age! ... I love the expression.
Thank you Elen. Blasted awkward site to move around actually. It was mainly 4-5 feet high vegetation. Difficult site.
Greensurfingbear I'm almost taken aback at your suggestion of contacting magazines about these. I'm very flattered, and have no idea where to begin. I'll look into this though.
Greensurfingbear I'm almost taken aback at your suggestion of contacting magazines about these. I'm very flattered, and have no idea where to begin. I'll look into this though.
Elen Sentier
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
greensurfingbear
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mate I'm totally serious I've been working outdoors/rangering for over 15 years and I've only seen adders a dozen times and never giving birth! Like I said I'd be honoured to have them on a public display board in my visitor centre.
Orric
Great pic's HarvestMan, only ever seen one Adder your one lucky guy to have witnessed the birth of one.
Brilliant HM, I've seen quite a few vipers , even saw one on a coastal path in Brittany a few days ago but I've never seen them giving birth......fantastic photos, absolutely remarkable.
Sorry I got in late to the discussion. Nice one mate, that is seriously rare unless you do it for a living And even then, after 27 years, I have only seen it about 15 times. They tend to give birth under cover and rarely in the open like that, which makes it an even more rare an encounter.
The most individuals I've ever encountered being born is 17, around 8 to 10 is more usual. But they can go as high as 20.
To answer your PM, My bet is on that individual being a female due to it's lighter and less prominent flank barring. But it's difficult to tell at that age, so I can only be about 70% sure. 90% in this case as the markings are very light in that area.
Possibly a good thing you didn't pick it up. Although they look cute at that minute, they are pre-programmed for defence and are fully venom equipped. Even more so, as it has become more potent the longer it has been unused. there is also excellent evidence that neonates like that have a higher potency than the adults due to the lower yield. I was hospitalised for a week from one bite with just one fang penetrating. The pain was intense. They are also far more difficult to control than the larger versions and can twist and strike very quickly.
Well done though, for an arachnologist, that's pretty impressive.
If you get the chance again, follow the female. They are easily followed in that condition and you would see the others being born.
And even then, after 27 years, I have only seen it about 15 times. They tend to give birth under cover and rarely in the open like that, which makes it an even more rare an encounter.The most individuals I've ever encountered being born is 17, around 8 to 10 is more usual. But they can go as high as 20.
To answer your PM, My bet is on that individual being a female due to it's lighter and less prominent flank barring. But it's difficult to tell at that age, so I can only be about 70% sure. 90% in this case as the markings are very light in that area.
Possibly a good thing you didn't pick it up. Although they look cute at that minute, they are pre-programmed for defence and are fully venom equipped. Even more so, as it has become more potent the longer it has been unused. there is also excellent evidence that neonates like that have a higher potency than the adults due to the lower yield. I was hospitalised for a week from one bite with just one fang penetrating. The pain was intense. They are also far more difficult to control than the larger versions and can twist and strike very quickly.
Well done though, for an arachnologist, that's pretty impressive.
If you get the chance again, follow the female. They are easily followed in that condition and you would see the others being born.
Pfft. Senility is well and truly setting in.....
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62225&highlight=adders+giving+birth
Quite right of course ....now you have linked I remember that. Old age indeed - knowing and recalling are no longer the same thing Fred err George.....
Hah, don't worry BR, I'm more shocked by Insect-Boy getting some decent rare shots of a rare adder occurrence.
I'd have loved to follow the female for more pictures, but I'd have needed a brushcutter. That site is seriously impenetrable in places, and the vegetation was over my head at times.
Your turn now, worm-boy. Show me the rare spiders
Your turn now, worm-boy. Show me the rare spiders
Like most things.
You just wait. Finding rare spiders must be easy. You do it all the time. You even managed to find one that didn't even exist.
