RAUK - Archived Forum - Dancing Adders

Yesterday at about 12.45pm I witnessed two male adders in combat at Puddletown Forest.

 I watched one male actively searching around an area of about 3 square metres until it came to a basking male. It stopped about 12" away and appeared to bask. After a minute or so the original basking male became aware of it. It lifted its head and moved to face it. Their heads wwere about 10" apart. After a brief pause, combat commenced. Both males lined up parallel to each other and raised the front parts of their bodies. They proceeded to try and force each others heads to the ground. This seemed very frantic, both heads dipping and rising rapidly. Even their tails were trying to wrap around each other. I could not tell which had the advantage until after about 30 - 60 seconds one slid off very rapidly with the other pursuing it.

Both of these males were about 24" long. I could not see any sign of a female present.

Hope you took some pics Stuart!

Were the males of equal size? You can bet the female was close by. hidden most like - weather was cloudy and cool in Purbeck.

All males have moulted at one long term study area near Corfe Castle. Today, one old male (22yrs) was mate-guarding a female, she is brick red and 65cm and 25yrs. The old male, who is 62cm suddenly whizzed off the female and met another male head on, a straw-coloured 55cm 12yr old and chased him for about ten metres. The female never moved and it took the old male fifteen minutes to return and resume his guarding position. These two males have had 'proper'combat in previous years, don't know why 'straw' gave in so easily - but early days yet. The big males here are so efficient when guarding females I am sure that multiple matings on this site anyway are unlikely.

On same site - another old female very good condition, and only 50 metres away from the above, but no males in attendance. 

Tony