A coiled puff adder with tan and brown chevron markings. — Photo: Danny S., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Puff Adder

Bitis arietans

A thick, well-camouflaged African viper that puffs itself up and hisses loudly instead of fleeing.

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About the Puff Adder

Puff adders are short, thick snakes that rarely grow longer than about 3 feet. Their dull tan scales help them blend into grass and scrub. They live across most of Africa, from Senegal to South Africa, except deserts and rainforests, and along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula. They eat rodents, birds and other animals they can catch.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Bitis arietans^[1]
Size: Rarely longer than about 3 feet.^[1]
Lifespan: Up to 15 years in human care.^[1]
Diet: Carnivore. Rodents, birds and other small animals.^[1]
Habitat: Semi-desert, forest edges, grassland, scrub and mountain edges.^[1]
Where it lives: Most of Africa, plus the coast of the Arabian Peninsula.^[1]
Group life: Solitary. Mostly nocturnal.^[1]
Babies: Live young, usually 20 to 40, sometimes up to 80.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2014).^[2]

Fun facts

Puff adders can have up to 80 babies at once.^[1]
They are good swimmers and climbers.^[1]
Young puff adders can launch their whole bodies forward to strike.^[1]

Vocabulary

venomous: Able to inject poison by biting or stinging.
viviparous: Giving birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
ambush predator: A hunter that hides and waits for prey to come close.
camouflage: Colors or patterns that help an animal blend in.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Reptile Discovery CenterSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Puff adder.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/puff-adder (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Bitis arietans (Puff Adder).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/197461/2485974 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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