Puff Adder
Bitis arietans • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Viperinae, Genus: Bitis, Species: Bitis arietans
Widespread throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the southern Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia and Yemen). It is absent from true rainforests and hyper-arid deserts like the central Sahara.
Look up Puff Adder in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Venomous (Solenoglyphous - possessing long, hinged front fangs)
Danger Level
Extremely Dangerous; responsible for more fatalities in Africa than any other snake due to its wide range, frequent occurrence in populated areas, and tendency to remain still rather than flee when approached.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Viperinae, Genus: Bitis, Species: Bitis arietans
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN); however, populations face local threats from habitat loss and persecution by humans.
Physical Description
Heavily built, stout body with a large, triangular head distinct from the neck. Coloration varies from yellow-brown to orange or grayish, featuring a series of dark, backward-pointing, chevron-shaped (V-shaped) bands along the back. Scales are heavily keeled, and the eyes have vertical pupils.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen appears to be an adult. Typical average length is 90-110 cm (approx. 3-3.6 ft), though large specimens can reach up to 190 cm (over 6 ft) and weigh over 6 kg.
Habitat
Highly adaptable, occurring in savannas, grasslands, open woodlands, and semi-deserts. It is frequently found in agricultural areas and suburban gardens. It is primarily terrestrial but can swim and climb low vegetation.
Behavior & Temperament
Sluggish and slow-moving, relying on camouflage. Unlike many snakes that flee, it often stays coiled in ambush, hissing loudly (a 'puffing' sound) if threatened. It strikes with immense speed and force, often sideways or forwards. Primarily nocturnal but frequently basks in the sun.
Diet & Feeding
Ambush predator. Primarily feeds on small mammals (rodents), but also consumes birds, amphibians, and lizards. It uses its venom to rapidly incapacitate prey before swallowing it.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young). Litter sizes are typically large, often 20-40 young, though record litters have exceeded 150. Peak birthing usually occurs in late summer.
Venom Profile
Highly cytotoxic and hemotoxic; causes severe local tissue damage (necrosis), swelling, hemorrhage, and systemic effects such as hypotension. It is one of the most medically significant venoms in Africa.
Look-alikes
Often confused with other members of the Bitis genus (like Bitis gabonica) or the Rhombic Night Adder (Causus rhombeatus), which is smaller and less heavy-bodied. The chevron pattern is a key diagnostic feature for Bitis arietans.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); however, populations face local threats from habitat loss and persecution by humans.
Cultural Significance
Highly feared throughout Africa; frequently featured in folklore and oral traditions as a symbol of sudden danger. Ecologically vital for controlling rodent populations.
Notable Features
Features a remarkably fast strike (one of the fastest in the world) and uses 'lingual flicking' and chemical signaling to track prey. It is famous for its 'rectilinear' movement, creeping forward in a straight line like a caterpillar using its belly scales.