A - Z List of Species

Adder (Adder)

Description

Relatively short and robust with a large head and a rounded snout. Their red-brown eyes have vertical elliptical rather than round pupils. Thye have a characteristic dark zig-zag running down the length of the spine and an inverted 'V' or sometimes "X" shape on the neck. Males are generally greyish with a black zig-zag. Females are pale brown with a darker brown zig-zag; however some can be completely black and be mistaken for other species.

Behaviour

Males shed their old winter skin and are ready to mate by mid-April. Their frenzied activity may be witnessed on warm days when males are looking for females and competing with other males for supremacy. The "dance of the adders" was once thought to be a mating display between a male and a female but it is actually a larger male confronting a smaller male. The snakes writhe around each other, often covering the ground at considerable speed.

Size

Length: 50-65 cm. Females are larger than the males..

Where to see them

Fairly common in areas of rough, open countryside and woodland edge habitats. Adders have been recorded on the following SWT reserves: Carsegowan Moss, Feoch Meadows, Flanders Moss, Grey Hill Grassland, Knowetop Lochs, Largiebaan, Loch of the Lowes.

When to see them

Relatively easy to see, particularly on dry, sunny days. Early spring when they emerge from their hibernation dens is probably the best time to look for them.

Status

Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 from being killed, injured or sold and is a UK BAP Priority Species (new list).

Distribution

Widespread throughout mainland Britain but absent from Ireland. They occur throughout Europe, with the exception of the Mediterranean islands, and across Russia and Asia through to Northern China. They are one of the most widespread species of snake.

Fascinating facts

The only poisonous snake native to Britain, adders have the most highly developed poison-injecting mechanism of all snakes. Though not naturally aggressive and only using their poison as a last means of defence, they are quick to defend themselves if molested and can move with lightning speed. No-one has died from an adder bite in Britain for over 20 years. With proper treatment, the worst effects are nausea and drowsiness, followed by severe swelling and bruising in the area of the bite. Most people who are bitten were handling the snake. Treat adders with respect and leave them alone.