Adder

Fascinating facts about the Adder

• The adder holds the title of the most northerly snake on Earth, stretching its range farther north than any other snake species. Its Eurasian spread is massive, from the United Kingdom all the way to the Pacific coast of Asia, reaching the Arctic Circle in the north and the Mediterranean Sea in the south.
• Adders reproduce slowly, with females giving birth only once every two to three years and producing litters of three to 20 young.. In many populations the average clutch is about a dozen, as noted: Neonates emerge at 14-23 cm (5.5-9.1 in) long and are fully venomous.
• Hibernation dominates the adder's year, with males sleeping about 150 days and females up to 180 days in Great Britain, while northern Swedish snakes may hibernate for 8-9 months. Mortality is steep: roughly 15 % of adults and 30-40 % of juveniles die during the winter months. Hibernacula can host many snakes together, up to a hundred in a single underground shelter.
• Adder venom is relatively mild but still medically significant. Laboratory tests report mouse LD₅₀ values of 0.55 mg/kg IV, 0.80 mg/kg IP and 6.45 mg/kg SC. Venom yields are low, with 10-18 mg extracted from 48-62 cm specimens, and as little as 6 mg in other reports. Human deaths are rare, only 14 fatalities in Britain from 1876-2005. These numbers explain why bites are painful but seldom lethal, yet they still demand prompt medical care.
• Size in adders varies dramatically with geography. Adults normally measure 60-90 cm (24-35 in), but the biggest individuals exceed 90 cm and have been recorded at 104 cm (41 in) in Scandinavia. Their mass ranges from 50 g to 180 g (1.8-6.3 oz).

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Adder

In the dappled shade of a forest floor, the adder unfurls its sinuous body, a master of stealth and patience, as it navigates the underbrush with a slow, deliberate pace, its scaly skin blending seamlessly into the surroundings. With eyes that gleam like polished onyx, this ancient serpent surveys its domain, a realm of rustling leaves and hidden crevices, where it lies in wait for the unsuspecting prey that will sustain it through the long, dark winter. As it moves, its body undulates in a mesmerizing rhythm, a testament to the enduring power and beauty of this most enigmatic of creatures.

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