Puff Adder
Bitis arietans
A widespread, thick-bodied African viper responsible for more snakebite incidents than any other African species, largely due to its abundance and camouflage.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft)
- Range
- Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
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Overview
The puff adder is one of the most widely distributed venomous snakes across Africa, found in nearly every habitat type outside of true rainforest. Its excellent camouflage and tendency to remain still rather than flee when approached contribute to it being involved in more snakebite incidents than any other African snake species.
Its common name refers to its dramatic defensive display of inflating its body and hissing loudly with a deep, puffing sound when disturbed.
How to identify it
- Thick, heavy body with a distinctly triangular, flattened head
- Yellowish-brown to gray background with dark chevron-shaped crossbands
- Rough, keeled scales giving a coarse texture
- Vertical pupils and prominent heat-sensing facial pits
- Distinguished from the Gaboon viper by smaller size and simpler chevron pattern
Habitat & range
Highly adaptable, occupying savanna, grassland, scrubland, farmland, and semi-desert across most of sub-Saharan Africa and into parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Absent mainly from true rainforest and extreme desert.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Primarily nocturnal but often basks by day, moving slowly and relying on camouflage rather than flight. Feeds on rodents, birds, amphibians, and other small vertebrates using an ambush strategy. Live-bearing, with large litters of young produced.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the puff adder responsible for so many bites?
Its wide distribution, effective camouflage, and reluctance to move when approached increase the chance of accidental encounters.
What does a puff adder do when threatened?
It inflates its body and produces a loud hissing or puffing sound as a warning.
Where is the puff adder found?
Across most of sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, in a wide range of habitats.
How can you identify a puff adder?
Look for a thick body, triangular head, and dark chevron-shaped bands on a yellow-brown background.
Puff Adder guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Puff Adder.
Puff Adder identified by the community
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