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Bitis armata: |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39  View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 ***Message for T.P*** Hey, I noticed you were conducting ongoing reserach into the re-classifed Bitis armata. Are you also conducting specimen I.D surveys??? I was in De Hoope nature reserve in January with the University of Exeter and found a juvenile specimen (I think!!) close to a stone wall in the car park, which I also managed to photograph. Would yhis photo prove useful in aiding your study at all?? Regards Kev Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 HI Kev Thats' interesting, was this Koppie Alleen car park? I had a gravid female close to that car park, well she was gravid in December, she is still in the same area. What size was the snake you found? The female is 30cm. Was it actually in the car park or on other side of wall, or possible in the wall. They feed mainly on Trachylepis skinks, but the larger ones (30cm -38cm) will take striped mouse. They are also quite arboreal, up to two metres or so sometimes. I have 45 Id'd at DeHoop now. Last visit in July had 3 DORs on Koppie Alleen Rd, people in a rush to see the whales; also dead cobra and puff adder, and an angulate tortoise. A photo would be good, you can pm me for my e mail if you have specific info re exact location. Thanks for this, I attach a photo of 25cm male found last vist in July.  'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39 View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 T.P, Not sure which car park exactly (I was asleep in the van!!). I remember a footpath then a board walk to the left of the path which took you directly onto the dune system (stunning it was too!). The specimen was found tightly coiled under a loose rock (quite late in the morning/early afternoon ) that had been removed from the wall. It was actually within the vicinity of the car park. It was no more than 15 cm max as i remember I captured it using my scorpion tweezers!! Would you prefer me to email you the pics or post it here??? Kev Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39 View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 oops!!! Thinking about it some more, board walk onto dunes was on the right not left, hope this helps. Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 Yes, thats'Koppie Alleen car park. You can post photo here for everybody's interest. I did have a small male about the size you mention back in December 07, it had quite rufous coloured saddles, these fade as they get older. This was also under a loose rock near the rubbish bin, might be the same one!! You can also e mail me the photo for my records. pm me. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39 View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39 View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 More info: Photo taken on Jan 22nd at 11:27 am, but thats all the detail I have unfortunately, hope this is viable info for you. By the way, tried to pm you and it says you have reached your limit for recieved pm's???? Kev Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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Vanderklam Member Joined: 20 Apr 2008 No. of posts: 39 View other posts by Vanderklam |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 I will also email my graduate colleagues and lecturers to see if they have any other images that may better assist in your I.D Kevin Palmer Lecturer in Animal Management/Course Manager Reaseheath College |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 Thats' a different snake, a female, but see how bright those markings are compared to an adult. Probably from the same brood, perhaps from that female. I ID them from mainly the dorsal head markings but also arrangement of saddles, you see how they become staggered at mid-body. Your location and photo is good enough for a nice record. e mail me the photo adderwatch@telkomsa.net Much appreciated, thanks. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 16 Aug 2008 Kev - Just for interest, this is the area bordering the boardwalk to the beach. People from UK and N.Europe often comment on how similar fynbos is to heathland. There are at least nine species of Erica alone in that patch though! If you look in the background you can see where it gets more bushy, this is where the armata like to climb. I have even found their tracks on the dunes, but close to cover.  'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
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Suzi Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 No. of posts: 860 View other posts by Suzi |
Posted: 18 Aug 2008 Kev I live closeish to Exeter uni and wander the local heaths snake spotting. Do you do any reptile research locally? The cliff and undercliff in the Weston/Branscombe area are wick with adders and the last smooth snake in Devon was killed in that area many years ago. I ask this as heaths are seen as THE place for reptiles in Devon and yet this area seems to be overlooked. The undercliff is full of mice. Suz |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 18 Aug 2008 That's a very pretty armata Kev', good find O-> O+> |
- Bitis armata |