Adder

Name: Adder

Scientific name: Vipera berus

Category: Reptiles

Nature Stars: 60

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About:

The Adder is a relatively small snake, rarely much longer than 50cm and quite thick set. Prefers woodland, heathland and moorland. It hunts lizards and small mammals as well as ground-nesting birds such as Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Hibernates from October, emerging in the first warm days of March, which is the easiest time of year to find them.

Go to the adder's Beast of the Month page for more fantastic facts!

How to identify: Greyish or brown, with a darker zig-zag stripe down the back.

Where: Widespread across the country, except for Scottish Islands, the Isles of Scilly, the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 90
• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 70
• Cute factor: 10
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: The Adder is Britain's only venomous snake.

Photograph credit: Wildstock