Bitis

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Bitis

• The Genus of Puff-Adders and Gaboon Vipers

http//www.geocities.com/hotherps/barietans.jpg
Jennifer Stiner
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Family Viperidae
http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/media/herp/1
7.herp.jpg
http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/media/d_chal
fant/pcd3910_106.jpg
Fer-de-lance
Copperhead
Cottonmouth
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Characteristics of Desert Vipers

• Highly toxic
• Long, hinged fangs to penetrate prey and deliver
  venom
• Broad, triangular heads
• Heavy bodies and short tails
• Numerous keeled scales

• Horn-like scales above eyes
• Camouflaged to blend in with desert background
• Non-aggressive temperament
• Ambush prey
• Side-winders

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African Puff-Adder (Bitis arietans)
Range Africa and Middle East Biome tropical
forests, savannas, grasslands, and water
http//www.pbase.com/ouroboris/bitis
http//
Camouflage dark splotches on back, bars from
eye to lip, and up-turned nostrils Diet toads,
small rodents, snakes
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Most Feared
http//www.afn.org/afn05594/rep-pics/puff_adder.j
pg
http//www.coastalreptiles.com/bitis.htm

• 2nd largest dangerous viper
• Most frequent bite in Africa
• Lethargic nature and invisibility
• Fatal venom

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Baby Puff Adders
http//www.coastalreptiles.com/Puffbabies1.jpg
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East African Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica
gabonica)
http//www.geocities.com/hotherps/bggabonica.jpg
Range Central, Eastern, and Western
Africa Biome rainforest, forest floor, and wet
areas Camouflage a combination of colors
(brown, pink, and purple) help them to hide in
leaf litter and spotted sunshine Distinct
Characteristic rostal horns grow with age
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Diet small mammals and birds Surprise attack
lies motionless in wait for prey and then strikes
with speed and agility Poison glands 2 large
glands with haemotoxin
http//www.animalsoftherainforest.com/gaboonviper.
htm
Swallows prey whole
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Gaboon Viper Fangs
http//www.animalsoftherainforest.com/gaboonviper.
htm
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Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis)
Range Central and Western Africa Biome
tropical forests, often near water or swampy
environment
http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/bit
is/b._nasicornismedia
Camouflage brilliant coloration varies
depending on habitat, triangle mark on
head Distinct characteristic 2-3 horn like
projections above each nostril
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BeautifulYet Dangerous
http//www.coastalreptiles.com/bitis.htm
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Baby Rhino Viper
http//www.afn.org/afn05594/rep-pics/rhino_viper_
baby.jpg
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Side-winding Adder (Bitis peringueyi)
http//www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html
http//www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html

• Namib Desert
• Windblown dunes
• Uses black tipped tail to attract lizards

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Single Horned Adder (Bitis caudalis)

• Kalahari Desert to Transvaal
• One horn over eyes
• Black tipped tail
• Variety of color phases

http//www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html
http//www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html
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Many Horned Adder (Bitis cornuta cornuta)

• Cape region of Africa
• Many horns

http//www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html

• Prefers rocky desert and scrub
• Feeds on lizards, small mammals, or birds

http//www.geocities.com/hotherps/bccornuta.jpg
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Namaqua Dwarf Adder (Bitis schneideri)
http//www.geocities.com/hotherps/bschneideri.jpg
http//www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html

• Namaqualand of South Africa
• Coastal dunes

• Smallest member of genus (18-24 cm)
• Eats geckos frogs

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Desert Mountain Adder (Bitis xerophaga)

• South Africa
• Rocky hillsides and mountain slopes
• Does not burrow

http//www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html
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Conclusion
http//www.plumed-serpent.com/dscour.html
Many Horned Adder
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References

• Botswana Tourism. Puff Adder.
  http//www.gov.bw/tourism/flora_and_fauna/puff.htm
  l
• EMBL Reptile Database. Family Viperidae (Vipers
  and Pit Vipers). 30 December 2002.
  http//www.embl-heidelberg.de/uetz/families/Viper
  idae.html
• Kalasinskas, Ron. Gaboon Viper. Animals of
  the Rainforest. 2003. http//www.animalsoftherain
  forest.com/gaboonviper.htm
• Krutein, Wernher. Gaboon Viper. Photovault
  Reptile Museum Snakes (Serpentes).
  http//www.photovault.com/Link/Animals/Reptiles/Sn
  akes/Species/GaboonViper.html
• Lipsett, Jason. The Rhinoceros Viper. Whozoo.
  http//www.whozoo.org/Anlife99/jasonlip/rhinoviper
  index.htm
• Mummert, Chad. African Puff-Adder. The Animal
  Diversity Web. 21 Feburary 1997.
  http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/bit
  is/b._arietansnarrative.html
• Poisonous Snakes of Africa and Asia. 22
  November 2002. http//www.aircav.com/survival/appe
  /asappe19.html
• Rakshas Page. Desert Scour The Sand Viper
  Page. 31 October 2002. http//www.plumed-serpent
  .com/dscour.html
• Rogers, Garry. Bitis nasicornis Rhinoceros
  Vipers. The Animal Diversity Web. December
  1999. http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accoun
  ts/bitis/b._nasicornisnarrative.html