Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Vipera
Species: V. berus
The European adder is the only venomous snake in Britain. Even though its bite is very dangerous, adders are one of the most non-aggressive snakes in the world. It takes a long time to generate venom, so the snake only uses it as a last defense when it feels extremely threatened. While the adder is a venomous snake, modern medicine has made it possible to treat the bite. No one has died from a bite in Britain in 20 years. With proper treatment, bites from this venomous snake only result in swelling and a bruise.
• Adders live on the edges of forests, meadows, moors and coastal dunes.
• They emerge from hibernation dens in the early spring.
• They hibernate for 5-7 months.
• Adders primarily eat small rodents, lizards, frogs, newts and young birds.
• Their jaws are made from four separate bones, so they can stretch and swallow prey much larger than their heads.
• The females are larger than the males.
• The average size of an adder is small for a snake.
• The males are usually 50 cm long.
• The average female is around 55 cm.
• They also differ in color; females are brownish and males are grayish.
• Adders are threatened by the loss of habitat.
• They have a very distinct zigzag pattern on their backs.
A large threat to adders is fear. Often, people see adders as a danger, but showing fear is not the best way to react to them. These animals serve an important role in the community and pose very little danger to humans. Adders control the rodent population. Not only are rodents a nuisance, they also bring diseases and dangerous germs into homes. In many ways, they can be more dangerous to humans than the snakes that eat them. Adders are extremely shy, and it is very rare for them to bite humans unless directly threatened. It is important to be cautious of snakes, but understand that they are also very important to the environment.
