Puff Adder
Puff AdderPuff AdderPuff Adder

Puff Adder

Bitis arietans

Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Nairobi National Park
4 Verified sightings at Nairobi National Park From 2019 to 2026
914 Verified sightings across all 41 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Puff Adder

The puff adder (Bitis arietans) is a highly venomous viper species found in savannahs and grasslands from Morocco and western Arabia throughout Africa except for the Sahara and rainforest regions. It is responsible for causing the most snakebite fatalities in Africa owing to various factors, such as its wide distribution, frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and aggressive disposition. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

The species is commonly known as the puff adder, African puff adder, or common puff adder. German naturalist Blasius Merrem described Bitis arietans in 1820. The specific name arietans means "striking violently" and is derived from the Latin arieto. The type locality given is "Promontorio bonae spei " (Cape of Good Hope), South Africa.

The puff adder's usual size is about 1.0 m (39.3 in) in total length (body and tail) and very stout. Large specimens of 190 cm (75 in) total length, weighing over 6.0 kg (13.2 lb) and with a girth of 40 cm (16 in) have been reported. Specimens from Saudi Arabia are not as large, usually no more than 80 cm (31 in) in total... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
2 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
3 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
4 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
5 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
6 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
7 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
8 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
9 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
10 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
11 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
12 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
13 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
14 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
15 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
16 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
17 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
18 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
Insufficient data
19 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data
20 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
21 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
22 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
23 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
24 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
25 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
26 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
27 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
28 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
29 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
30 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
31 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
32 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
33 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
34 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
35 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
Insufficient data
36 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
37 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
38 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
39 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
40 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
41 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
Insufficient data
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