ADDERS WITH PREY / HUGGORM

D4, 200 mm 4,0 Micro, f/9,0, 1/200, ISO 800 

For those who know me it is no secret that I have a deep interest for snakes. This summer I have focused exclusively and continuously on adders (huggorm).... no other snake species this year. I have presented similar pictures last year, but in my own eyes I have managed to take adders a little bit further this year, .... so I`m proud to present a couple of situations with adders swallowing mice. 

What happens when the adder takes a prey (which in 99 % will be mice) is that it strikes, injects the venom and then lets the mouse go. It will not take the chance to hold the mouse because of possible bites & injuries from sharp rodent teeth. Accordingly the mouse escapes ... but quickly dies. After a while the adder will start smelling with the tongue, trace down the prey by the scent that was planted in the escape and slowly start the swallowing prosess. 

Some of these pictures took me a lot of work and were really hard to do. Hope you like `em ! 

A warm thank you to a good friend. Without his knowledge, dedication and help I would never have managed to shoot them.

Sweet dreams !!

The long poison fangs are normally folded backwards in the snake`s upper jaw. When it strikes the fangs swing out, but they are still hidden within soft skin folds in the snake palate. The skin folds are easily retracted as the fangs sink into the prey.

D4, 105 mm 2,8, f/8,0, 1/640, ISO 1600 

 A black male adder has just found it`s dead mouse and clumsily tries to start swallowing from the back

D800E, 200 mm 4,0,, f/8,0, 1/320, ISO 1250 

The fangs are now folded up backwards and can be seen in the upper jaw

D800, 200 mm 4,0, f/8,0, 1/320, ISO 2500

D4, 105 mm 2,8, f/8,0, 1/400, ISO 5000

D800E, 200 mm 4,0, f/7,1, 17200, ISO 6400

D800E, 200 mm 4,0, f/10,0, 1/160, ISO 720

D800E, 200 mm 4,0, f/10,0, 1/160, ISO 800

D800E, 200 mm 4,0, f/11,0, 1/160, ISO 1400

D800E, 200 mm 4,0, f/11,0, 1/160, ISO 1600