The horned adder has small horn-like scales above its eyes that help break up its outline in sandy environments. Africa is home to hundreds of snake species, but only a small percentage are ...

Snakes are familiar, distinctive—and often feared—reptiles. And they've been around for a long time: body fossils found in the UK, Portugal and the US stretch all the way back to the late Jurassic ...

Until last month, I had never seen a puff adder. After two days in South Africa, I had seen nine. Although this highly venomous viper is shy if unprovoked, the species is credited with the majority of ...

New research from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, has revealed that puff adders (Bitis arietans) can be highly efficient at controlling rodent populations that ...

I saw my first puff adder in the wild in South Africa in 2013. By the end of the week, we had found eight more. This highly venomous viper has enormous fangs, reaches lengths well over 5 feet, and the ...

Puff adders, one of Africa's most widespread snakes, could be agricultural heroes in disguise. New research from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, has revealed that ...

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