Puff Adder

The puff adder (Bitis arietans) is a highly venomous viper found across most of Africa outside the Sahara and rainforest belt, plus parts of the western Arabian Peninsula, typically in savanna and grassland. It is a stout, heavily built snake usually about a meter long, patterned with dark chevron or U-shaped bands, and it is considered responsible for more snakebite fatalities in Africa than any other species because of its wide range, frequent presence near people, and tendency to rely on camouflage rather than fleeing when approached. Its cytotoxic venom can cause severe local tissue damage and can be fatal without treatment. The puff adder feeds on rodents, birds, amphibians, and other small vertebrates and is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.