Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I keep hearing about people being bitten by "adders" in the UK and other parts of Europe. I hear about them on golf courses and neighborhoods and on sidewalks.

Does anyone know what type of snake they are talking about? Are they actual adders (similar to puff adders or death adders) or is this just a term that ignorant people have assigned to them? (I've heard hognose snakes being referred to as adders).

I'm curious to know what kind of snake keeps popping up in the UK media.
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1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
0.1.0 Black Ratsnake
0.0.1 Texas Rat (tame)
1.0.0 Broad Banded Water Snake, Hypo
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets

It's a true viper and reasonably common in some areas.....TC

>>I keep hearing about people being bitten by "adders" in the UK and other parts of Europe. I hear about them on golf courses and neighborhoods and on sidewalks.

They are talking about snakes of the genus Vipera. "Adder" is the general common name for the genus and if any group af snakes can be called the "original" adders I think they are it.

Most other snakes that are referred to as adders are named that due to their resemblance to Vipera species. The word adder is also used VERY losely to refer to almost any venomous snake...
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

I think this is the one you are looking for , It is the Vipera uisinii and commonly called the Meadow Adder or Meadow Viper . it is very common over there and throughout Europe. David

the ONLY venomous snake in the U.K. and is the one referred to....TC

There is a Vipera ursinii but it does NOT occur in the U.K.....TC