African Puff Adder
African puff adder is a venomous snake found throughout Africa (except the Sahara and rain forest areas) and western Arabia. It is a viper species with two recognized subspecies.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Suborder | Serpentes |
| Family | Viperidae |
| Subfamily | Viperinae |
| Genus | Bitis |
| Scientific Name | Bitis arietans |
| Other Names | Puff adder, Common Puff Adder |
| Length | Average: 39.3 in; Large specimens (75 in) |
| Color | Yellowish white with scattered dark spots; two dark bands on the head (on the crown and between the eyes); gold to silver-gray iris; straw yellow, light brown, orange, or reddish brown dorsal ground color; belly is white or yellow with dark spots; some may be dusty-brown or blackish |
| Distribution | Southern Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, southern Algeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, northern, eastern and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa; southwestern Saudi Arabia and Yemen. |
| Habitat | All types of habitats, barring true deserts, rain forests and tropical alpine habitats |
| Diet | Small mammals, birds, amphibians, and lizards |
| Hibernation | Hibernates during winter months |
| Venom Fact | Highly toxic |
| Breeding Season | Spring |
| Mode of Reproduction | Ovoviviparous(produces young ones by means of eggs hatched inside the body of the mother) |
| Litter Size | 50 to 80 or more (maximum recorded 156) |
| Reproductive Age | 45 months (average) |
| Average Lifespan | Maximum 15.8 years in captivity |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
African Puff Adder Pictures Gallery
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- African Puff Adder Images
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- African Puff Adder Photos
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- African Puff Adder Pictures
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- African Puff Adder Snake
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- African Puff Adder
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- Bitis Arietans
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- Common Puff Adder
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- Puff Adder
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- South African Puff Adder
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- Puff Adder Snake
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- Puff Adder Venom
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- Puff Adder Bite
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- Puff Adder Head
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- Puff Adder Fangs
