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Vipera berus - Adder Throughout Britain absent only from a few Scottish Islands, most common on dry heaths and rough grassland. |
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Adders are small snakes, around 60 centimetres in length, with a characteristic black V mark behind the head and dark zigzag pattern down their back. If you see a snake within Dumfries and Galloway it will be an Adder, the only animal you are likely to confuse them with is the Slow Worm, actually a legless lizard! Adders are cold blooded and you are most likely to encounter them in the early morning sunning themselves on rocks or pathways. They are, quite sensibly, scared of people and when warm and active they will hear you coming and quickly hide. You might have noticed that the individual above has a milky looking eye, this is not because it is unwell, but because it is preparing to shed its skin. Snakes and other reptiles must do this periodically as they grow, when it is ready it will coil itself around some twigs and by gently pushing itself forward slides the dead skin off. |
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Photo - D. Heward |
