Vipera berus

Andren C. (1982). The role of the vomeronasal organs in the reproductive behaviour of the Adder, Vipera berus. Copeia, 148-157. 

Andren, C. (1986) Courtship, mating and agonistic behavior in the free-living population of adders, Vipera berus (L.). Amphibia-Reptilia 7, 353-383. 

Male adders Vipera berus) fight for access to unmated females. Courtship starts in spring only after sexually active males have shed their skins. Males tongue flick at females and court them but attack other shed males. If a recently shed male meets a non-shed male or female, he will ignore both. In summary, the male adder needs a chemical cue from the skin to court or fight (Andren, 1982). 

Lizard Lacerta vivipara Vipera berus, smooth snake Coronella austriaca Soiled cage Increased tongue flicking Thoen etal., 1986... 

In the UK, the adder (Vipera berus) represents the only indigenous poisonous snake and adder antivenin preparations are termed Zagreb antisera . European viper venom antisera contain antibodies capable of neutralizing the venoms of one or more species of viper Vipera ammodytes, V. aspis, V. berus and V. ursinii). In many instances, antivenin preparations are polyvalent in nature. This is particularly helpful in cases where the victims are unsure of which snake actually bit them. 

Several snake species contributed the venom used by the Scythians, including the steppe viper Vipera ursinii renardi, the Caucasus viper Vipera kasnakovi, the European adder Vipera berus, and the long-nosed or sand viper Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana. In ancient India, one of the most feared poisons was derived from the rotting flesh and venom of the white-headed Purple Snake, described by the natural historian Aelian (third century ad). His detailed description suggests that the Purple Snake was the rare. 

Vipera Berus Common Name(s) , Cross Adder... 

Crews 1977). In addition, a pheromone associated with the copulatory plug in the plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) renders captive males sexually refractory for periods of 24-72 h after exposure (Ross Crews 1978). Thus, there appear to be pheromones in the copulatory plug that not only render mated females temporarily unattractive, but also cause sexually active males to become sexually quiescent, ceasing courtship behavior after exposure to this pheromone. Similar studies in the Swedish viper (Vipera berus) did not yield any behaviors similar to those exhibited by garter snakes (Nilson Andren 1982). 

Nilson, G. C. Andren. 1982. Punction of renal sex secretion and male hierarchy in the adder, Vipera berus, during reproduction. Horm. Behav. 16 404-413. 

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