Puff Adder

Puff Adder © Graham Cooke

Vital Statistics

Name

Puff Adder [Bitis arietans]

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Viperidae

Subspecies

Common Puff Adder [B. a arietans], Somali Puff Adder [B. a. somalica]

Length_F

1 100 mm

Length_M

1 090 mm

Description

This thick, heavily built snake has a large, flattened, triangular head and large nostrils which point vertically upwards. The body is yellow-brown to light brown, with black, pale-edged chevrons on the back and bars on the tail.

Distribution

Throughout the subcontinent, north through the whole of Africa to Southern Arabia.

Blyde River Canyon

Large litters, usually consisting of 20 - 40 young are born in late summer.

Venom

Cytotoxic.

Diet

Rodents, sometimes birds and even other snakes.

Field Notes

The Puff Adder is responsible for more bites and fatalities in Africa than any other snake due to its habit of not moving away from approaching footsteps, instead blowing out air as a warning, hence the name.