Puff adder

Puff adder
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Bitis
Species:	B. arietans
Binomial name
	Bitis arietans; (Merrem, 1820)
	Distribution range
Synonyms
	Click to expand Cobra lachesis Laurenti, 1768 ; Cobra clotho Laurenti, 1768 ; Coluber lachesis — Gmelin, 1788 ; Coluber clotho — Gmelin, 1788 ; Coluber bitin Bonnaterre, 1790 ; Coluber intumescens ; Donndorff, 1798 ; Vipera severa ; Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 ; Vipera (Echidna) arietans ; Merrem, 1820 ; Vipera inflata Burchell, 1822 ; Echidna arietans — Wagler, 1828 ; Vipera brachyura Cuvier, 1829 ; Vipera arietans — Schlegel, 1837 ; Clotho (Bitis) arietans — Gray, 1842 ; Clotho (Bitis) lateristriga Gray, 1842 ; Echidna arietans — A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 ; Bitis arietans — Günther, 1858 ; Bitis arietans — Boulenger, 1896 ; Cobra lachesis — Mertens, 1937 ; Bitis lachesis — Mertens, 1938 ; Bitis lachesis lachesis ; — de Witte, 1953 ; Bitis arietans arietans ; — Loveridge, 1953 ; Bitis arietans peghullae ; Steward, 1973 ; Bitis arietans — Golay et al., 1993 ; Vipera (Clotho) arietans ; — Herprint Int'l, 1994 ; Bitis arietans ; — Spawls & Branch, 1995 ;

The puff adder (Bitis arietans) is a highly venomous viper species found in savannahs and grasslands from Morocco and western Arabia throughout Africa except for the Sahara and rainforest regions.^[3] It is responsible for causing the most snakebite fatalities in Africa owing to various factors, such as its wide distribution, frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and aggressive disposition.^[4]^[5] Like all other vipers, it is venomous. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.^[6]

The species is commonly known as the puff adder,^[4]^[7] African puff adder,^[8]^[9] or common puff adder.^[10]

^ ^a ^b Wagner, P.; Wilms, T.; Luiselli, L.; Penner, J.; Rödel, M.-O.; Els, J.; Al Johany, A.M.H.; Egan, D.M.; Beraduccii, J.; Howell, K.; Msuya, C.A.; Ngalason, W.; Turner, A.A.; Zassi-Boulou, A.-G.; Kusamba, C.; Chippaux, J.-P. (2021). "Bitis arietans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T197461A2485974. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197461A2485974.en.
^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^ Venomous Snakes of the World. U.S. Navy Manuals. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 1991. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
^ ^a ^b Mallow D; Ludwig D; Nilson G. (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89464-877-2..
^ Spawls S; Howell K; Drewes R; Ashe J. (2004). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. London: A & C Black Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-7136-6817-2..
^ "Bitis arietans". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 July 2006.
^ Spawls S; Branch B. (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
^ Fichter GS. (1982). Venomous Snakes (A First Book). Franklin Watts. ISBN 0-531-04349-5..
^ Kauffeld C. [in French] (1969). Snakes: The Keeper and the Kept. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc.
^ "Bitis arietans". Munich AntiVenom INdex. Retrieved 2 August 2007.

[IUCN-1] Wagner, P.; Wilms, T.; Luiselli, L.; Penner, J.; Rödel, M.-O.; Els, J.; Al Johany, A.M.H.; Egan, D.M.; Beraduccii, J.; Howell, K.; Msuya, C.A.; Ngalason, W.; Turner, A.A.; Zassi-Boulou, A.-G.; Kusamba, C.; Chippaux, J.-P. (2021). "Bitis arietans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T197461A2485974. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197461A2485974.en.

[McD99-2] McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).

[USN91-3] Venomous Snakes of the World. U.S. Navy Manuals. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 1991. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.

[Mal03-4] Mallow D; Ludwig D; Nilson G. (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89464-877-2..

[Spa04-5] Spawls S; Howell K; Drewes R; Ashe J. (2004). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. London: A & C Black Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-7136-6817-2..

[ITIS-6] "Bitis arietans". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 July 2006.

[SB95-7] Spawls S; Branch B. (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.

[Fic82-8] Fichter GS. (1982). Venomous Snakes (A First Book). Franklin Watts. ISBN 0-531-04349-5..

[Kauf69-9] Kauffeld C. [in French] (1969). Snakes: The Keeper and the Kept. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc.

[Mavin-10] "Bitis arietans". Munich AntiVenom INdex. Retrieved 2 August 2007.

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Puff adder

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Bitis
Species:	B. arietans
Binomial name
*Bitis arietans* (Merrem, 1820)

Distribution range^[1]
Synonyms
Click to expand Cobra lachesis Laurenti, 1768 Cobra clotho Laurenti, 1768 Coluber lachesis — Gmelin, 1788 Coluber clotho — Gmelin, 1788 Coluber bitin Bonnaterre, 1790 Coluber intumescens Donndorff, 1798 Vipera severa Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801 Vipera (Echidna) arietans Merrem, 1820 Vipera inflata Burchell, 1822 Echidna arietans — Wagler, 1828 Vipera brachyura Cuvier, 1829 Vipera arietans — Schlegel, 1837 Clotho (Bitis) arietans — Gray, 1842 Clotho (Bitis) lateristriga Gray, 1842 Echidna arietans — A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Bitis arietans — Günther, 1858 Bitis arietans — Boulenger, 1896 Cobra lachesis — Mertens, 1937 Bitis lachesis — Mertens, 1938 Bitis lachesis lachesis — de Witte, 1953 Bitis arietans arietans — Loveridge, 1953 Bitis arietans peghullae Steward, 1973 Bitis arietans — Golay et al., 1993 Vipera (Clotho) arietans — Herprint Int'l, 1994 Bitis arietans — Spawls & Branch, 1995^[2]