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Adder. The adder is a greyish snake, with a dark and very distinct zig-zag pattern down its back, and a red eye. Males tend to be more silvery-grey in colour, while females are more light or reddish-brown. Black (melanistic) forms are sometimes spotted.
- Grass Snake
Scientific name: Natrix helvetica. The grass snake is our...
- Adder
How to identify. The adder is a greyish snake, with a dark...
- Grass Snake
Male adders usually have silvery-grey colouration, while females can be copper or brown. Both have a distinctive, black zig-zag pattern along their backs. Fully black adders can be seen in some areas too. Once fully grown, adders usually measure between 60 and 80cm in length.
- Male
- Female
- Breeding Behaviour
- Juvenile
- Melanistic
- Feeding Behaviour
A male adder tends to have very dark zigzag markings and dark borders to the scales on his snout. His tail is also longer than that of a female, tapering more gradually towards the tip. Back to top
A female adder usually has a brown zigzag marking (unlike males, who usually have a very dark, almost black zigzag) and her overall colour tends to be browner than the male. The scales on her snout are also less likely to have dark borders than those of male adders. The tail of the female (beyond the vent/cloaca) is shorter than that of a male and ...
Adders give birth to live young. Males wrestle or 'dance' to gain access to a female. Females need to bask in the sun to ensure their young develop. Back to top
Newborn adders are often a beautiful brick-red colour. Until they are mature adults, it can be difficult to tell the sex of adders from their colour or markings. Back to top
A small percentage of adders are very dark or almost black in appearance. These individuals have inherited a gene which results in increased production of the pigment melanin (the same pigment which results in dark hair or skin in many other animals). Back to top
Adders are predators of other animals, including small rodents, lizards, amphibians and ground-nesting birds. The adder is venomous but its bite is rarely fatal to humans (and adders will usually only bite humans if trodden on, or otherwise provoked). Back to top
How to identify. The adder is a greyish snake, with a dark and very distinct zig-zag pattern down its back, and a red eye. Males tend to be more silvery-grey in colour, while females are more light or reddish-brown. Black (melanistic) forms are sometimes spotted.
May 27, 2024 · The common European adder is the only snake that lives above the Arctic Circle. This snake, also known as the black adder, is the most common venomous snake in Europe. It ranges far and wide across Europe and Asia. In the northern areas of its range, it is often the only snake species.
- Yes, they are venomous; however, biologists consider their venom less dangerous than that of other vipers.
- This species is both an ambush predator and an active hunter.
- No, they’re actually timid and would rather escape than attack. Most bites happen because someone stepped on or picked up an adder.
- They’re most widespread of all the vipers and inhabit most of continental Europe including Great Britain, east to northern China, and south to Greece.
- They eat a variety of small animals including mice, ground-nesting birds, and lizards.
Adder. The adder is a greyish snake, with a dark and very distinct zig-zag pattern down its back, and a red eye. Males tend to be more silvery-grey in colour, while females are more light or reddish-brown. Black (melanistic) forms are sometimes spotted.
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ARC is now offering free online access to a selection of beautiful high-resolution adder photos, as part of our efforts to protect this species by reducing disturbance. We encourage their use for educational or creative projects which portray snakes in a positive light.
