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Common Adder

Common adder is a type of venomous snake which is found extensively throughout most of Western Europe and East Asia.

Other Name	Common European Adder, Common European Viper, Common Viper
Length	60 – 90 cm (24 – 35 in)
Color	Males: Gray with black markings Females: Brownish with darker brown markings; Males are slightly darker than females
Distribution	Northwestern, Southern, and eastern Europe, north of the Arctic Circle, Russia, Sakhalin Island, North Korea, northern Mongolia and northern China
Habitat	Rocky hillslides, meadows, edges of woods, bushy slopes, coastal dunes, stone quarries, chalky downs, sandy heaths, on the banks of lakes, ponds and streams
Diet	Mice, shrews and voles; birds, lizards, frogs, newts, salamanders, worms, moles; sometimes spiders and insects
Hibernation Fact	In Great Britain, males hibernate for about 150 days whereas females hibernate for about 180 days; in northern Sweden, they hibernate for 8-9 months
Predators	Buzzards, other adult snakes, as well as rodents (especially during hibernation)
Venom Fact	Venomous, but less toxic than many other vipers
Breeding Season	April- May
Mode of Reproduction	Viviparous (gives birth to live young)
Litter Size	3 – 20
Average Lifespan	15 years
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern