Observations on the distribution of melanistic snakes in Britain

Nash, Darryn J; Robinson, Stuart; Lewis, Todd R

Abstract

Records of melanistic British snakes were sourced from several databases and individuals. Of the three native snake species there were 217 records of melanistic northern vipers (Vipera berus), nine grass snakes (Natrix n. helvetica) and four smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca). The geographical spread of melanistic individuals appeared to reflect the general countrywide distribution of their cryptically coloured counterparts.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 18, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 28, 2016
• Publication Date: Jun 28, 2016
• Deposit Date: Aug 2, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 19, 2021
• Print ISSN: 1473-0928
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 136
• Pages: 19-22
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7598337
• Publisher URL: https://www.thebhs.org/publications/the-herpetological-bulletin/issue-number-136-summer-2016/882-04-observations-on-the-distribution-of-melanistic-snakes-in-britain