Venomous snakes with long, hinged fangs that fold back against the roof of the mouth when not in use. Vipers live in most parts of the world, but not Antarctica or Australia, and most give birth to live young. The common European adder lives farther north than any other snake.
Quick answers
What is it?Reptile
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?Yes
All vipers are venomous, but the common adder is not aggressive, and its bites, though very painful, are rarely fatal.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Day & night
Hibernates?Yes
The adder hibernates for about five to six months in Britain, and up to nine in northern Sweden.
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inEurope, Asia, Africa, North America, Central America, South America
HabitatGrassland, Scrub, Forest
ColoursBrown, Grey, Black
SizeSmall
LengthCommon adder: 60–90 cm
WeightCommon adder: 50–180 g
LegsNone
Covered inScales
Lives alone
Lives for10–15 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- The Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. The adder ranges from Britain across Eurasia to the Pacific, north of the Arctic Circle.
- What it eats
- The adder eats mainly small mammals such as mice, voles and shrews, plus lizards, birds and amphibians.
Did you know
The adder is Britain's only venomous snake, and it lives farther north than any other snake.
Pit vipers, such as rattlesnakes, have heat-sensing pits near their nostrils that detect warm-blooded prey.
In Britain, male adders hibernate for about 150 days a year and females for about 180.
Often confused with
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