Puff adder

This article is about the viper species "common puff adder", native to Africa. For the viper subfamily commonly known as "puff-adders", see Bitis. For the non-venomous snake native to North America, colloquially known as "puff adder", see Heterodon.

Puff adder
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bitis
Species:
B. arietans
Binomial name
Bitis arietans
(Merrem, 1820)
Distribution range[1]
Synonyms
Click to expand
  • Cobra lachesis Laurenti, 1768
  • Cobra clotho Laurenti, 1768
  • Coluber lachesis — Gmelin, 1788
  • Coluber clotho — Gmelin, 1788
  • Coluber bitin Bonnaterre, 1790
  • Coluber intumescens
    Donndorff, 1798
  • Vipera severa
    Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801
  • Vipera (Echidna) arietans
    Merrem, 1820
  • Vipera inflata Burchell, 1822
  • Echidna arietans — Wagler, 1828
  • Vipera brachyura Cuvier, 1829
  • Vipera arietans — Schlegel, 1837
  • Clotho (Bitis) arietans — Gray, 1842
  • Clotho (Bitis) lateristriga Gray, 1842
  • Echidna arietans — A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
  • Bitis arietans — Günther, 1858
  • Bitis arietans — Boulenger, 1896
  • Cobra lachesis — Mertens, 1937
  • Bitis lachesis — Mertens, 1938
  • Bitis lachesis lachesis
    — de Witte, 1953
  • Bitis arietans arietans
    — Loveridge, 1953
  • Bitis arietans peghullae
    Steward, 1973
  • Bitis arietans — Golay et al., 1993
  • Vipera (Clotho) arietans
    — Herprint Int'l, 1994
  • Bitis arietans
    — Spawls & Branch, 1995[2]

The puff adder (Bitis arietans) is a highly venomous viper species found in savannahs and grasslands from Morocco and western Arabia throughout Africa except for the Sahara and rainforest regions.[3] It is responsible for causing the most snakebite fatalities in Africa owing to various factors, such as its wide distribution, frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and aggressive disposition.[4][5] Like all other vipers, it is venomous. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[6]

The species is commonly known as the puff adder,[4][7] African puff adder,[8][9] or common puff adder.[10]

  1. ^ a b Wagner, P.; Wilms, T.; Luiselli, L.; Penner, J.; Rödel, M.-O.; Els, J.; Al Johany, A.M.H.; Egan, D.M.; Beraduccii, J.; Howell, K.; Msuya, C.A.; Ngalason, W.; Turner, A.A.; Zassi-Boulou, A.-G.; Kusamba, C.; Chippaux, J.-P. (2021). "Bitis arietans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T197461A2485974. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197461A2485974.en.
  2. ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. ^ U.S. Navy. 1991. Venomous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
  4. ^ a b Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
  5. ^ Spawls S, Howell K, Drewes R, Ashe J. 2004. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. A & C Black Publishers Ltd., London. 543 pp. ISBN 0-7136-6817-2.
  6. ^ "Bitis arietans". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 July 2006.
  7. ^ Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  8. ^ Fichter GS. 1982. Venomous Snakes. (A First Book). Franklin Watts. 66 pp. ISBN 0-531-04349-5.
  9. ^ Kauffeld C. 1969. Snakes: The Keeper and the Kept. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. 248 pp. LCCCN 68-27123.
  10. ^ Bitis arietans at Munich AntiVenom INdex. Accessed 2 August 2007.