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The article describes the first record of biting as an intraspecific behaviour of a male Common European Adder (Vipera berus) during courtship and mating. In venomous snakes this behaviour is rather rare and in Vipera berus this is the first time it has been observed in the wild. This behaviour is compared to similar observations in snakes and pote...
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Context 1
... but with more intensity. As a newly recorded behaviour, the additional male did gently bite the female at 16:48, CET. As shown in Fig. 1 the solenoglyphous fangs where not erected. Once more, it tried to disrupt and separate the couple by "tail wrestling". Having no success the concurring male did bite the copulating male vigorously at 17:04, CET (Fig. 02). It is unclear if it used its fangs. In the end, the disrupting male had no success. The copulating couple disappeared at 17:20, ...
