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Aspic Viper

Vipera aspis

Description:

Aspic Viper 55/60cm

Habitat:

Mountain, forest Spotted on rocky ground, altitude ~1780m.

Notes:

It's a venomous species yes. Little few dead cases (4% of all untreated bites are fatal). It was my surprise when I turned my head and noticed it on my boot. I was standing still, camouflaged, and taking pictures of red deers in the mountains. Then I took pictures of it :)

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19 Comments

Frederic Ansermoz
Frederic Ansermoz 9 years ago

Thank you Maria :) I so wanted to take a picture of it crawling on my shoe, but I had a zoom lens on my camera :/ I wasn't fast enough to zom out, change the focus and the settings as I was hidden in a darker area.
So I let it finish its journey on my boot and took picture of it after.
It went under a stump, so I stepped back and start to photograph it.
As it was lookiing at me with this so friendly eyes (^^ just kidding), and it was to beautiful, I switched to my macro lens. Being careful with my hands as I was holding the camera really close.
The funny part is that I was thinking at the same time that what if the deers are coming now since I switched to the macro lens?!
I'm glad that people appreciate this shot :)

Maria dB
Maria dB 9 years ago

Wow - that must have been a surprise. What presence of mind and calm you have to then begin photographing it!

Frederic Ansermoz
Frederic Ansermoz 9 years ago

Wow! Thank you a lot Reza, Mark and Fyn!
I'm honored to be nominated. It means a lot too me.
Fyn, I will copy the info in my comments into the corresponding fields then.
Thank you again, and all the best to the other nominees!

Fyn Kynd
Fyn Kynd 9 years ago

Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 9 years ago

Nice shots. Great looking snake.

Awesome !

Frederic Ansermoz
Frederic Ansermoz 9 years ago

Thank you AshleyT (not as big as the one around your neck!).
Thanks Rams4d!.
I'm glad you like it

rams4d
rams4d 9 years ago

Excellent picture

AshleyT
AshleyT 9 years ago

Beautiful snake!

Frederic Ansermoz
Frederic Ansermoz 9 years ago

Thank you Dilan!
It's a venomous species yes. Little few dead cases (4% of all untreated bites are fatal).
It was my surprise when I turned my head and noticed it on my boot.
I was standing still, camouflaged, and taking pictures of red deers in the mountains.
Then I took pictures of it :)

Dilan Chathuranga
Dilan Chathuranga 9 years ago

Is it a highly venomous snake Frederic??Cool sot!thanks for sharing!!

Frederic Ansermoz
Frederic Ansermoz 9 years ago

Thank you again Bhagya! I'm glad that you like it!

Bhagya Herath
Bhagya Herath 9 years ago

what a beauty... really great capture.....

Frederic Ansermoz
Frederic Ansermoz 9 years ago

Thank you Marta :) He found me first!

The MnMs
The MnMs 9 years ago

Nice to find this one! Beautiful snake :-)

Frederic Ansermoz
Frederic Ansermoz 9 years ago

Thank you Antonio!

Awesome capture Frederic,congrats and thanks for sharing

Frederic Ansermoz
Frederic Ansermoz 9 years ago

Thank you Daniele! I'm glad I have good hiking boots!

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 9 years ago

A close shave Frederic! Great spotting.

Frederic Ansermoz
Spotted by
Frederic Ansermoz

Valais - Wallis, Switzerland

Spotted on Sep 30, 2014
Submitted on Sep 30, 2014

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