Puff Adder
Scientific Name: Bitis arietans
Common Name:
Size: Average 1.2 meters, maximum 1.8 meters
Appearance: Yellowish, light brown, or orange with chevron-shaped dark brown or black bars
Venom: strongly Hemotoxic, destroying bloods cells and causing extensive tissue damage
Nature: It is largely nocturnal, hunting at night and seeking shelter during the day's heat. It is not shy when approached. It draws its head close to its coils, makes a loud hissing sound, and is quick to strike any intruder
Distribution: Most of Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan
Habitat: Arid regions to swamps and dense forests, more common around human settlements
Common Name:
Size: Average 1.2 meters, maximum 1.8 meters
Appearance: Yellowish, light brown, or orange with chevron-shaped dark brown or black bars
Venom: strongly Hemotoxic, destroying bloods cells and causing extensive tissue damage
Nature: It is largely nocturnal, hunting at night and seeking shelter during the day's heat. It is not shy when approached. It draws its head close to its coils, makes a loud hissing sound, and is quick to strike any intruder
Distribution: Most of Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan
Habitat: Arid regions to swamps and dense forests, more common around human settlements
Australian Copperhead
Australian Copperheads are highly venomous poisonous Snakes native to the temperate territories of southern and eastern Australia. Well adapted to cooler climates, they are the only Australian snake found above the snowline. These snakes prefer fertile wetland and swamp habitat and are known to congregate in large numbers when conditions are optimal. Excellent swimmers, Australian Copperheads are very much at home in river, swamp and marshland habitats. They tend to gather where prey is plentiful and a major part of their diet is frogs and tadpoles. As generalized carnivorous hunters and they will eat any suitable sized prey - including one another and even their own young!
Many Horned Adder
This small adder, with an average length of about 30 cm, is rather distinct because of the tufts of 2 - 4 hornlike scales above each eye. The general appearance is characteristic of small adders, nl. with a triangular head and a stout body with a short distinct tail. The overall impression is that of a dull grey snake with black and pale markings, although some populations in Namaqualand are reddish brown. They may be active during the day, especially early in the morning when they like to bask. They lie in ambush waiting for prey which usually consists of lizards, but also rodents and even the occasional rain or sand frog.This adder is usually associated with harder soils to stony ground and, although it is claimed for this species, side winding and burying itself in sand has not been noticed by this author. Its range is restricted to the area along the west coast and adjacent inland areas from southern Namibia, through Namaqualand southwards to the south-western Cape. Although its range falls within the famous Namaqualand flower areas, tourists attracted during the flowering season will rarely meet these interesting looking snakes, as they tend to still be hibernating until early spring.
Palestine Viper
Scientific Name: Vipera palaestinae
Common Name:
Size: Average 0.8 meter, maximum 1.3 meters
Appearance: Olive to rusty brown with a dark V-shaped mark on the head and a brown, zigzag band along the back
Venom:
Nature: It is active and aggressive at night but fairly placid during the day. When threatened or molested, it will tighten its coils, hiss loudly, and strike quickly
Distribution: Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan
Habitat: Arid regions, but may be found around barns and stables. It has been seen entering houses in search of rodents
Feeds on: small mammals, frogs etc
Fang Facts:■The Palestinian viper is closely related to the Russell's viper of Asia. Like its cousin, it is extremely dangerous
Common Name:
Size: Average 0.8 meter, maximum 1.3 meters
Appearance: Olive to rusty brown with a dark V-shaped mark on the head and a brown, zigzag band along the back
Venom:
Nature: It is active and aggressive at night but fairly placid during the day. When threatened or molested, it will tighten its coils, hiss loudly, and strike quickly
Distribution: Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan
Habitat: Arid regions, but may be found around barns and stables. It has been seen entering houses in search of rodents
Feeds on: small mammals, frogs etc
Fang Facts:■The Palestinian viper is closely related to the Russell's viper of Asia. Like its cousin, it is extremely dangerous