by armata » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:44 am
Yes Adriaan do not divulge the location. All I want to do is help and advise. It is true that B.atropos seems to prefer a certain kind of habitat structure, and thats what I am interested in. Also climatic influences. I have seen this adder moving around on grey drizzly days at around 12degC!
The fact that they seem to occur in isolated pockets, and as BV has stated, makes them vulnerable. I think, fairly sure, that most SA herpers know they are tricky and short-lived in captivity, but the European and US collectors are a different story.
We have a problem in the W.Cape in that some of the bergie sites are very well known and are hit regularly. Which is a great pain as it includes two of my study sites. Plus we have had some bad fires in recent years.
The most intersting sites are where you can get B.atropos/cornuta/rubida living side by side. Luckily these areas are not so well known (I hope!!). My other sites have atropos/rubida together.
You have a good opportunity to do a nice mark and recapture study here and I am only too happy to help and advise.
Yes, more pics would be nice, but just the animals, not the habitat!!!! although you can send me the latter, it would help.
' I get my kicks on Route 62 '