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Slow Worm colour |
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Rags
Senior Member Joined: 04 Dec 2011 Location: Dorset Status: Offline Points: 133 |
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Posted: 02 Apr 2015 at 4:22pm |
I recall speaking to someone a few years back who told me that large numbers of Slow Worms in his New Forest garden had blue markings.
Can anyone tell me if Slow Worm populations in some areas are prone to showing certain colours. I'm guessing that markings are passed on through the genes so it is possible that a particularly well marked male may produce well marked offspring in someones garden or on a local nature reserve. However is there any evidence that maybe Slow Worms in the south are more likely to have brighter blue markings than perhaps those from elsewhere in the UK (or visa versa)? Would love to see any photos of unusually marked Slow Worms posted if anyone has them. (Apologies if going over old ground here.) |
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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Well I'm in the south Rags and I don't get many blue ones.
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Suz
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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I'm sure there's an element of founder effects - island populations like those on Flat Holm and Steep Holm are supposed to have both a high frequency of blue spot males and males with a high number of blue spots on them, but equally they can be found on the mainland, of course. I remember reading that they are supposed to be commoner in the south and west of England but I've seen blue spotted ones from Yorkshire, for example. David Bird has posted a photo of an amazing nearly all blue male from a back garden somewhere in Dorset on the forum in the past I think. At first sight it looked like someone's April Fool, almost like it had been dipped in paint!
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Damn, wish I had thought of that for yesterday Will.
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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looks genuine enough to me, but then I was fooled by the four tailed viv!
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Rags
Senior Member Joined: 04 Dec 2011 Location: Dorset Status: Offline Points: 133 |
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Where the hell did you find that one? |
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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same place Gemma found the four-tailed viv last April 1st - in her magic garden
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Yep Will's right Rags, my garden is line of sight with Bradwell Power Station, I find all sorts of strange looking herps in there:
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Rags
Senior Member Joined: 04 Dec 2011 Location: Dorset Status: Offline Points: 133 |
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Oh my, that's terrible.
If you don't mind me saying, but if your avatar photo is a selfie, I don't think it's doing you much good living there either. |
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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I know and I use to be normal..... ......well probably not really.
The Lizard from last year: |
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