BERG ADDER Bitis atropos
This lovely small snake, measuring only 14cm, was recently discovered on my patio at Betty’s Bay (figure 1). It was readily misidentified (by me) as a puffadder, but upon further examination and with the assistance of informed snake-loving friends, it was acknowledged to be a berg adder, a venomous viper species endemic to mountainous regions of southern Africa.
Common names: Berg adder, mountain adder, and Cape mountain adder
Geographic range: Eswatini; Lesotho; Mozambique; South Africa (Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape Province, Western Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo Province); Zimbabwe
Typical adult size: 30-40cm in total length, but some females can reach a total maximum length of 50cm in the wild.
Distribution and habitat:
In the southern part of its range, this species thrives in cool environments with high precipitation, preferring cold and wet winters and warm and dry summers. It can be found in coastal and mountain heathland, small rock outcrops at sea level, and grassy areas with clumps of bushes and shrubs, including Betty’s Bay. This finding is therefore not unusual. Please see the reference list to find more information related to distribution and habitat.
Reproduction:
– Average litter size is 7, but may be as many as 15, so I may get lucky enough to see a few more!
Venom and diet:
– Neurotoxic venom with few symptoms of necrosis and infection.
– The venom is considered to be an adaptation to the prey, which are primarily rock lizards and small amphibians, but can extend to small rodents and the young of ground-nesting birds.
– The venom is insufficient to kill an adult human with a single injection. There are no records of such an incident.
– Symptoms following a bite appear quickly and have been compared to alcohol intoxication; they are not lasting.
– Obvious signs may include loss of smell or taste, drooping eyelids, and visual loss.
– Treatment is typically confined to symptomatic relief.
This was the first time I had seen such a gorgeous specimen in my 13 years of living in Betty’s Bay. This snake should still be respected and admired from a distance because it is known to have a temper, hiss loudly, and strike quickly. However, as I discovered, the snake chose to move rapidly into the shelter of my indigenous fynbos garden and I have not seen it since the 2 September 2024.
References and further reading:
South Africa section/Distribution map, factsheet – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berg_adder
Geographic range – https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/178597/115660262