An often thick-bodied viper with a flat snout, nearly always several large scales on the top of the head. Most adders have a clearly marked dark, zig-zag vertebral stripe. In rare cares the stipe can
Male snakes have very dark markings compared to the dark brown markings of the female. Neonate (newborn) adders are often orange/copper/red in colour.
Occurs over much of Europe. The most successful snake species in the world in terms of its world distribution - the most far ranging species of any terrestrial snake - Northern Europe to the Pacfic Ocean (siberia etc). The most northernly ranged species the only one found within the Arctic circle - and is 'widespread' across England, Wales and Scotland
Despite its success the species is very vulnerable and is now localised and fragmented in much of its range - intensive agriculture is the main threat to the species which has fragmented populations into isolated colonies.
Occurs in a wide variety of habitats including moors, heaths and dunes, and in bogs, open woods, field edges, hedgerows, marshy meadows, and even salt marshes. Adders may travel 0.5-2km, from the areas where they hibernate (and often mate) to their feeding grounds and males may travel up to 200m in a day during the breeding season.
Rodents, reptiles, fledgling birds etc
Adders seem to spend more time basking and sun-bathing than our other snakes and consequently are encountered on a regular basis. Hibernation takes place from October to March, although in northern parts of the region their appearance in spring may be delayed by up to a month. In hunting, an adder will usually quickly bite a prey item and then release, the prey animal often wanders off a short way before it dies, and in due course the adder follows it, using its sensitive tongue to 'taste' the route of its prey. Satisfied that the prey is dead, the smake swallows the prey whole - usually head first.
Courtship and maing take place in spring. In the presence of a female, rival males sometimes engage in ritual combat where, with bodies entwined and the front halves often raised off the ground as they wrestle. The victor gains access to the female. A female Adder gives birth to around 12 young. At the moment of birth, the young are still constrained by a thin membrane that is soon ruptured. From the moment they are born the young are venomous and armed with hollow, needle-like fangs with which the venom is delivered.
The adder is protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended in 1991) - it is also a Priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan -
The adder is very much widespread and localised species. It has suffered dramatic declines over the last 30 -40 years. Declines of over 80% have been recorded in individual colonies since the 1970's. In many areas of the country it is the rarest reptile species and is the most vulnerable to land use change and development. Persecution still happens in the countryside thought to lesser extent with many people becoming interested in snakes and more accepting of the species.
Current protection for the adder does nothing for the most important part of its ecology - the hibernation and foraging habitats. Individual animals are protected from harm and from being killed - though this leads to hundreds of adders being moved out of the way of development which has not been proven to be effective in conserving the species.
Help by sending records to Add an Adder - http://www.adder.org.uk
Action plan for Widespread reptiles - http://www.arc-trust.org/downloads/Widespread_Reptile_SAP_Aug_09.pdf
Although these snakes are venomous, they will only bite as a form of defence and only if provoked by being handled or otheriwse physically disturbed. Bites although painful are not fatal except in extremely rare cases.
