Distribution Map

Puff Adder – Bitis arietans

HIGHLY VENOMOUS
Size:
Averaging 70cm but can reach up to 1,4m in East Africa.
Description:
Short stocky snakes that occur in a variety of colours, from sandy brown, grey, bright yellow & black in some parts of its range. As South Africa’s most widely-spread, venomous snake, the Puff Adder occurs in a large range of habitat, from coastal bush, grassland, fynbos and montane habitat. The Puff Adder along withe the Mozambique Spitting Cobra account for the majority of serious snake bites South Africa. The Puff Adder is a snake with excellent camouflage, and it prefers to sit and wait for opportunity when it comes to feeding. These snakes may remain in an ambush position for several weeks, waiting for a potential meal to pass by. They have a powerful cytotoxic venom which can lead to extreme pain, severe swelling, and blistering of the skin.
Anti-venom:
Polyvalent anti-venom is used in the effective treatment of bites.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From near Pafuri, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From near Pafuri, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Prince Albert, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Prince Albert, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From West Coast National Park, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From West Coast National Park, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Orpen Gate, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Orpen Gate, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From near Timbavati Game Reserve, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From near Timbavati Game Reserve, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Grass Park, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Grass Park, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Noordhoek, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Noordhoek, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cato Ridge, KwaZulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cato Ridge, KwaZulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hammersdale, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hammersdale, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Montagu, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Montagu, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hammersdale, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hammersdale, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From False Bay, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From False Bay, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cato Ridge, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cato Ridge, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Impendle, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Impendle, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Clarens, Free State.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Clarens, Free State.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Steinkopf, Northern Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Kosi Bay, Kwa-Zulu Natal

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Kosi Bay, Kwa-Zulu Natal

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Assagay, Kwa-Zulu Natal

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Assagay, Kwa-Zulu Natal

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Naboomspruit, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Naboomspruit, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Botha’s Hill, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Vaalwater, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Summerveld, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Roedtan, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Pinetown, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Impendle, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Oudtshoorn, Klien Karoo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Oudtshoorn, Klien Karoo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Mooi River, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Roedtan, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Golden Gate National Park, Free State.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Golden Gate National Park, Free State.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cape Town, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Constantia, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Constantia, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Dinokeng, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Dinokeng, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Maatjiesvlei, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Maatjiesvlei, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hlhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cape Town, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cape Town, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cape Town, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Green Point, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From University Of Cape Town, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cape Town, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Noordhoek, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Tamboerskloof, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Tamboerskloof, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Tokai, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From near Pafuri, Limpopo.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Kommetjie, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Kommetjie, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cape Town, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Gardens, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Sea Point, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Sea Point, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Muizenberg, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Devils Peak Estate, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Sea Point, Western Cape

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Itala Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Tamboerskloof, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Tamboerskloof, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camps Bay, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camps Bay, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Camps Bay, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Matjiesfontein, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Tamboerskloof, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Devils Peak Estate, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Seapoint, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Seapoint, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Cape Town, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From West Coast National Park, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Devils Peak Estate, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Hout Bay, Western Cape.

Bitis arietans

Puff Adder. From Tamboerskloof, Western Cape.