# Puff Adder (*Bitis arietans*)

> The puff adder (Bitis arietans) is a heavy African viper responsible for many snakebite cases across sub-Saharan savanna because it relies on camouflage and stands its ground. Adults weigh several kilograms, ambush rodents and birds, and are listed Least Concern despite medical importance.

- **Category:** Reptile
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Savannas across much of sub-Saharan Africa and into the Arabian Peninsula.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/puff-adder/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Reptilia
- **Order:** Squamata
- **Family:** Viperidae
- **Genus:** Bitis

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Bitis arietans |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Savanna, grassland, and rocky hills |
| Lifespan | Around 15 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 6 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 5 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Camouflage and hissing bluff

Chevron patterns blend with leaf litter and grass. When threatened the snake inflates its body and hisses loudly — the "puff" — before a fast strike. Fangs are long and hinged.

## Ambush of the savanna night

Diet includes rodents, birds, lizards, and amphibians seized from ambush beside paths and burrows. Slow movement by day makes them easy to step on accidentally.

## Senegal to South Africa

Savanna, grassland, and rocky hills across much of sub-Saharan Africa and into parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Across its range it is tied to savanna, grassland, and rocky hills, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Medical burden, not extinction risk

Least Concern as a species, yet among Africa's most significant causes of venomous snakebite because it is common near people and farms. Footwear, torch use at night, and rapid antivenom access save lives.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why do puff adders cause so many bites?

Excellent camouflage, reluctance to flee, and abundance near human paths lead to accidental tread-on strikes.

### Is puff adder venom haemotoxic?

It causes severe local tissue damage and coagulopathy; bites need urgent hospital care and antivenom when indicated.

### Do puff adders chase people?

No — strikes are defensive at short range; they do not pursue.

### How big do puff adders get?

Stout adults commonly near 1 m, with large individuals heavier than many longer, slender snakes.

### Where do puff adders live?

Savannas across much of sub-Saharan Africa and into the Arabian Peninsula.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/puff-adder/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.