Vipera berus

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Vipera berus

Vipera berus

Common European viper (also common adder, Vipera berus) seen close to the summit of Cima di Monte Bolza while descending. The specimen was some 25cm (10 inches) long and barely able to move due to cold wind. Thus I could get in real close (5cm) before it lifted its head to prepare to strike me. May 30th 2015
Gangolf Haub
on Jun 21, 2015 5:18 am
Lat/Lon: 42.39073°N / 13.68894°E
Image ID: 943528

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Ejnar Fjerdingstad

Ejnar Fjerdingstad - Jun 21, 2015 11:49 am - Voted 10/10

Quite common

in Denmark too!

Gangolf Haub

Gangolf Haub - Jun 22, 2015 10:20 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Quite common

Yes, they say the biggest ones can be found in northern Scandinavia. While here they get to be some 70cm in Finland they found specimen of almost twice that length.

I only encountered these vipers in the mountains, though ...

Vid Pogachnik

Vid Pogachnik - Jun 23, 2015 8:02 am - Voted 10/10

Smart one

They pretend that they are barely able to move, because when they bring you to 5 cm, it's easier to strike ;)

Gangolf Haub

Gangolf Haub - Jun 23, 2015 2:31 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Smart one

Nah - I'm to big for them. Won't go down in one bite ;-) Actually the last picture (the closest one) is pretty blurred. The snake raised its head and I didn't feel safe with my fingers at the front of the lense. Nervous - but not shaking :-)

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