The Viperine Watersnake Natrix maura, juvenile 2016

The Viperine Watersnake Natrix maura; the species with which I had my first succesfull breeding results back in 1986.

For the past 31 years I had offspring almost every year of this very attractive and highly aquatic little snake.  And every time it is a pleasure to see the variation in markings of the little babies and to watch the (highly variable) dorsal colors develop with every shedding.

The Viperine Watersnake Natrix maura, juvenile 2016

The Viperine Watersnake Natrix maura, juvenile 2016

These are 5 of my 2016 babies who have a very special father.

My breeding groups originally comes from the south of France (Provence, Cévennes and the Ardèche) but this year my females mated with  a male from Moroc.

The Viperine Watersnake Natrix maura, juvenile 2016

The Viperine Watersnake Natrix maura, juvenile 2016