The European Adder (Vipera berus)

[mistersprinkles]

http://users.tpg.com.au/ribert/adder2.jpg

I'd like to know a little more about this species perhaps from somebody who has kept one in their collection?

I go to the south-east of Spain in the Summers, and I was once bitten by a European Adder (there are lots of them there). I knew they weren't very dangerous so I didn't seek medical attention.

However, when I ask people if there are any venomous snakes there, they say no. I know better. I know there ARE venomous snakes there. For some reason though, the general knowledge around there is that there are not.

Why do you guys figure that is? Is it because nobody's ever died from a European Adder around there, so they assume it's safe? Wouldn't a bite from a large berus be enough to kill, say, a 20lb infant?

Just curious as to what others here can tell me about this attractive snake.

[Lankyrob]

We have them inthe uk, growing up we were never warned about them as although "venomous" they are not considered a threat even to children.

[mistersprinkles]

I didn't know they ranged into cold climates. I thought they were just from Southern France into Spain.

[Roman]

I didn't know they ranged into cold climates. I thought they were just from Southern France into Spain.

You might be surprised…

Vipera berus is the snake with the largest distribution of all snakes. It reaches from northern France (Normandy) and the UK in the West, Scandinavia in the North eastwards across central Russia to the Russian Far East (Amur), China, North Korea and the Sakhalin Island. It is the only snake with a distribution North of the arctic circle (69° N). The most southern distribution is in the Balkans (Northern Albania 42° N).

However, you will not find it in Spain. I suppose it is simply too warm for a snake like that.

In northern Spain and Portugal you may find Vipera seoanei, the Iberian Viper, which looks rather similar to Vipera berus. It was formerly described as a subspecies of Vipera berus, but was elevated to full species (Saint-Girons & Duguy, 1976)

Another viper from the Iberian peninsula is Vipera latastei (Lataste’s Viper). It can be found all over Spain and Portugal with the exception of the North, so there is only a small overlapping range between Vipera seoanei and Vipera latastei. There is also Vipera aspis (Asp Viper) in north east Spain right along the Pyrenees.

So if you are in south east Spain (somewhere around Barcelona?) the most likely Viper would be Vipera latastei, maybe Vipera aspis right at the border to France. More to the West it is certainly Vipera latastei. In northern Spain it would be Vipera seoanei.

I suppose most people don’t know that there are venomous snakes out there. They are rather small and often are nocturnal during the warm summer.

Roman

[mistersprinkles]

Thanks for the info, Roman. I looked up those Spanish snakes you told me about. If you put them all infront of me with a European Adder, I'd be hard pressed to tell them all apart. I have no idea what bit me. I always assumed it was Vipera berus because that's what it looked like to me. I wasn't in Barcelona I was much further south, around Alicante.

[Roman]

I have no idea what bit me. I always assumed it was Vipera berus because that's what it looked like to me. I wasn't in Barcelona I was much further south, around Alicante.

In that case it had to be Vipera latastei latastei, that's the only viper occuring there.

Roman

[mistersprinkles]

looked like this. I think you're right
http://www.reptarium.cz/content/photo_rd_04/Vipera-latastei-03000031828_01.jpg

How venomous are they?

[Roman]

Sorry, I don’t have much information about their venom. Envenomation seems to usually mild and might cause vomiting, diarrhea, local pain and swelling. Severe envenoming might occur, especially with children or older people. I could not find any comparable values like a LD50 for it’s venom

Roman

[mistersprinkles]

Cool. Well thanks for the information :)!

[Will0W783]

They are beautiful little vipers. I know someone who keeps a few, and they're interesting snakes. I don't know much about the venom, but the ones I've seen are pretty calm.