NEVER A NEITHER – A HYBRID MYSTERY SNAKE IN ENGLAND?

Barred grass snake (prime) and feminine widespread adder (backside); can these
two species, very separate taxonomically, not solely mate but in addition produce viable
hybrid offspring? (public area/public area)

In England, the 2 most typical
species of snake are the barred grass or ringed snake Natrix helvetica (typically referred to in southern England merely as
the snake) and the European viper or widespread adder Vipera berus. Belonging as they do to 2 completely separate, solely
distantly associated taxonomic households (Colubridae and Viperidae respectively),
it’s hardly doubtless that these two snakes would ever come collectively even to
mate, not to mention produce viable hybrid offspring.

But there’s a longstanding
perception emanating from southern England’s very sizeable New Forest that such
crossbreeds can and do happen. In line with H.M. Livens’s e-book Nomansland: A Village Historical past (1910),
for example:

It’s affirmed all through the [New]
Forest that there’s a informal hybrid between the [grass] snake and the adder,
which, in consequence of being neither adder nor [grass] snake, is named a Neither (pronounced nither). In color
it varies between these of its dad and mom, generally exhibiting a higher leaning to
the one aspect, and generally to the opposite. In its proportions it runs nearer to
the adder than to the [grass] snake, being about 18 inches lengthy; that’s,
quite longer than an adder however not fairly so stout. The Neither is normally
discovered on or close to damp floor concerning the head of a lavatory. When attacked it is going to
chew the stick as an adder does. A [grass] snake won’t do that. Its chew is
mentioned to be venomous. It’s not identified to breed.

The
New Forest can also be residence to Britain’s third, rarest, and least-known native
species of snake, the graceful snake Coronella
austriaca. But, oddly, it’s talked about solely very briefly, in passing, by
Livens, claiming that it’s uncommon right here, when in actuality it’s discovered all through
the New Forest’s extent. Furthermore, its barred markings are harking back to each
the grass snake’s and the adder’s, however it’s so shy as to be seldom seen and
stays very a lot a mysterious, enigmatic serpent right here.

Consequently,
I believe it extremely doubtless that the graceful snake is the true id of Livens’s
alleged grass snake x adder hybrid, the neither. Even its favoured habitat of damp
heath and lavatory compares nicely with that of the neither, as does its well-known
predilection for biting if antagonised or captured. True, the graceful snake is
not venomous, however many non-venomous animal species are wrongly deemed to be
via native superstition or ignorance, particularly if, like the graceful snake,
they’re rarely-seen, elusive creatures – which might additionally clarify why the neither
isn’t identified to breed.

In brief, it might appear that the neither is an inconceivable snake
rendered attainable in any case.