A small, cool-tolerant Eurasian viper whose dark zig-zag stripe is one of the most recognisable patterns in European wildlife.
Description
The European adder is a stocky viper rarely over 70 cm, with grey, brown, or reddish ground colour and a bold dark zig-zag stripe along the back. Females tend to be browner and larger; males are usually paler grey with sharper contrast in the pattern.
Behavior
Adders bask on sunny banks in spring and become active hunters of voles, lizards, and amphibians once warmed. Bites in humans are uncommon and rarely fatal but cause significant local swelling. They are the only venomous snake found wild in the British Isles and most of Scandinavia.
Range
The most northerly distributed snake in the world, ranging from the British Isles across Eurasia to the Pacific coast and well inside the Arctic Circle. Several distinct subspecies vary in size and colour across the range.
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European Adder starts with E and ends with R. Browse other snakes along the same letter.
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