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Home > Snakes > African Puff Adder

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

    Published on September 2nd 2016 by under Snakes. Article was last reviewed on 4th June 2019.

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