Vipera Berus - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Vipera berus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipera_berus
Vipera berus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vipera berus, the common European adder[3] or common

European viper,[4] is a venomous viper species that is extremely
widespread and can be found throughout most of Western Europe
and as far as East Asia.[2] Known by a host of common names
including common adder and common viper, adders have been the
subject of much folklore in Britain and other European countries.[5]
They are not regarded as especially dangerous;[3] the snake is not
aggressive and usually bites only when alarmed or disturbed. Bites
can be very painful, but are seldom fatal.[6] The specific name,
berus, is New Latin and was at one time used to refer to a snake,
possibly the grass snake, Natrix natrix.[7]
The common adder is found in different terrains, habitat complexity
being essential for different aspects of its behaviour. It feeds on
small mammals, birds, lizards, and amphibians, and in some cases
on spiders, worms, and insects. The common adder, like most other
vipers, is ovoviviparous. Females breed once every two or three
years, with litters usually being born in late summer to early autumn
in the Northern Hemisphere. Litters range in size from three to 20
with young staying with their mothers for a few days. Adults grow
to a total length (including tail) of 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35 in) and a
mass of 50 to 180 g (1.8 to 6.3 oz). Three subspecies are
recognized, including the nominate subspecies, Vipera berus berus
described here.[8] The snake is not considered to be threatened,
though it is protected in some countries.
Contents
1 Etymologies
2 Description
3 Geographic range
4 Conservation status
5 Habitat
6 Behaviour
7 Feeding
8 Reproduction
9 Venom
10 Taxonomy
11 See also
12 References
13 Further reading
Vipera berus
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Squamata
Suborder:
Serpentes
Family:
Viperidae
Subfamily:
Viperinae
Genus:
Vipera
Species:
V. berus
Binomial name
Vipera berus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Species synonymy
[Coluber] berus Linnaeus, 1758
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14 External links
[Coluber] Chersea Linnaeus, 1758

Coluber prester Linnaeus, 1761
Etymologies
The name "adder" is derived from ndre an Old English word that
had the generic meaning of serpent in the older forms of many
Germanic languages. It was commonly used in the Old English
version of the Christian Scriptures for the devil and the serpent in
the Book of Genesis.[5][9] In the 14th century, "a nadder" in Middle
English was rebracketed to "an adder" (just as "a napron" became
"an apron" and "a nompere" changed into "an umpire").
In keeping with its wide distribution and familiarity through the
ages, Vipera berus has a large number of common names in
English, which include:
Common European adder,[3] common European viper,[4]
European viper,[10] northern viper,[11] adder, common adder,
crossed viper, European adder,[12] common viper, European
common viper, cross adder,[13] or common cross adder.[14]
Coluber vipera Anglorum

Laurenti, 1768
Coluber Melanis Pallas, 1771

Coluber Scytha Pallas, 1773
C[oluber]. Scytha Bonnaterre,
1790
Vipera melanis Sonnini &

Latreille, 1801
Vipera berus Daudin, 1803

Vipera chersea Daudin, 1803
Vipera prester Daudin, 1803
[Coluber] Caeruleus Sheppard,
1804
Vipera communis Leach, 1817

Coluber chersea var. marasso
Pollini, 1818
In Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, the snake is known as huggorm

or hoggorm, roughly translated as "striking serpent" or "cutting
serpent". In Finland, it is known as kyykrme or simply kyy, in
Estonia it is known as rstik, while in Lithuania it is known as
angis.
Description
Relatively thick-bodied, adults usually grow to 60 cm (24 in) in
total length (including tail), with an average of 55 cm (22 in).[3]
Maximum size varies by region. The largest, at over 90 cm (35 in),
are found in Scandinavia; specimens of 104 cm (41 in) have been
observed there on two occasions. In France and Great Britain, the
maximum size is 8087 cm (3134 in).[3] Mass ranges from 50 g
(1.8 oz) to about 180 grams (6.3 oz).[15][16]
[Pelias] berus Merrem, 1820

[Vipera] marasso Sette, 1821
Vipera limnaea Bendiscioli, 1826
Vipera trilamina Millet, 1828
[Pelias] Chersea Wagler, 1830
Vipera torva Lenz, 1832
Pelias dorsalis Gray, 1842
V[ipera]. Prester var. gagatina
Freyer, 1842
Echidnoides trilamina Mauduyt,

1844
Vipera Pelias Soubeiran, 1855

Pelias berus var. Prester
The head is fairly large and distinct and its sides are almost flat and
vertical. The edge of the snout is usually raised into a low ridge.
Seen from above, the rostral scale is not visible, or only just.
Immediately behind the rostral, there are two (rarely one) small
scales. Dorsally, there are usually five large plates: a squarish
frontal (longer than wide, sometimes rectangular), two parietals
(sometimes with a tiny scale between the frontal and the parietals),
and two long and narrow supraoculars. The latter are large and
distinct, each separated from the frontal by one to four small scales.
Gnther, 1858
Pelias berus var. Chersea

Gnther, 1858
P[elias berus]. Var. dorsalis

Cope, 1860
P[elias berus]. Var. niger Cope,
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The nostril is situated in a

shallow depression within a
large nasal scale. The eye is
relatively largeequal in
size or slightly larger than
the nasal scalebut often
smaller in females. Below
the supraoculars are six to
13 (usually eight to 10)
small circumorbital scales.
V. berus: normal and melanistic
The temporal scales are
colour patterns
smooth (rarely weakly
keeled). There are 1012
sublabials and six to 10 (usually eight or 9) supralabials. Of the
latter, the numbers 3 and 4 are the largest, while 4 and 5 (rarely 3
and 4) are separated from the eye by a single row of small scales
(sometimes two rows in alpine specimens).[3]
1860
V[ipera]. (Pelias) berus Jan,

1863
V[ipera]. (Pelias) berus var.

prester
Jan, 1863
V[ipera]. (Pelias) berus var.

lymnaea
Jan, 1863
Pelias Chersea Erber, 1863

Pelias berus Erber, 1863
Vipera berus var. prester
Jan & Sordelli, 1874
Vipera berus [berus] Boettger,
Midbody there are 21 dorsal scales rows (rarely 19, 20, 22, or 23).
These are strongly keeled scales, except for those bordering the
ventral scales. These scales seem loosely attached to the skin and
lower rows become increasingly wide; those closest to the ventral
scales are twice as wide as the ones along the midline. The ventral
scales number 132-150 in males and 132158 in females. The anal
plate is single. The subcaudals are paired, numbering 3246 in
males and 2338 in females.[3]
The colour pattern varies, ranging from very light-coloured
specimens with small, incomplete, dark dorsal crossbars to entirely
brown ones with faint or clear, darker brown markings, and on to
melanistic individuals that are entirely dark and lack any apparent
dorsal pattern. However, most have some kind of zigzag dorsal
pattern down the entire length of their bodies and tails. The head
usually has a distinctive dark V or X on the back. A dark streak runs
from the eye to the neck and continues as a longitudinal series of
spots along the flanks.[3] Unusual for snakes, the sexes are possible
to tell apart by the colour. Females are usually brownish in hue with
dark-brown markings, the males are pure grey with black markings.
The basal colour of males will often be slightly lighter than that of
the females, making the black zigzag pattern stand out. The
melanistic individuals are often females.
Geographic range
Vipera berus has a wide range. It can be found across the Eurasian
land-mass; from northwestern Europe (Great Britain, Scandinavia,
Germany, France) across southern Europe (Italy, Serbia, Albania,
Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of
Macedonia, Bulgaria, and northern Greece) and eastern Europe to
1889
[Vipera berus] var. montana

Mhel, 1893
Vipera berus Boulenger, 1896

Pelias berus lugubris Kashehenko,
1902
Vipera berus pelias Chabanaud,

1923
[Vipera (Pelias) berus] forma

brunneomarcata A.F. Reuss, 1923
luteoalba A.F. Reuss, 1923
ochracea asymmetrica A.F. Reuss,
1923
[Vipera (Pelias) berus] rudolphimarchica A.F. Reuss, 1924

bilineata A.F. Reuss, 1924
Vipera (Pelias) berus forma
chersea-splendens A.F. Reuss, 1925
ochracea-splendens A.F. Reuss,
1925
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north of the Arctic Circle, and Russia to the Pacific Ocean, Sakhalin
Island, North Korea, northern Mongolia and northern China. The
type locality was originally listed as "Europa". Mertens and Mller
(1940) proposed restricting the type locality to "Upsala, Schweden"
(Uppsala, Sweden)[2] and it was eventually restricted to Berthga,
Uppsala by designation of a neotype by Krecsk & Wahlgren
(2008).[17]
In several European countries, it is notable as being the only native
venomous snake.
Conservation status
In the United Kingdom, it is illegal to kill, injure, harm, or sell
adders under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act.[18] The
common viper is categorised as "endangered" in Switzerland,[19]
and is also protected in some other countries in its range. It is also
found in many protected areas.[1] This species is listed as protected
(Appendix III) under the Berne Convention.[20]

rutila
A.F. Reuss, 1925

punctata
A.F. Reuss, 1925
Coluber sachalinensis
continentalis Nikolski, 1927
P[elias]. sudetica A.F. Reuss, 1927
(nomen nudum)
V[ipera]. berus marchici A.F.
Reuss, 1927
Vipera berus rudolphi A.F. Reuss,

1927
(nomen nudum)
Vipera berus berus
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of

Threatened Species describes the conservation status as of "least
concern" in view of its wide distribution, presumed large
population, broad range of habitats, and likely slow rate of decline
though it acknowledges the population to be decreasing.[21]
Reduction in habitat for a variety of reasons, fragmentation of
populations in Europe due to intense agriculture practices, and
collection for the pet trade or for venom extraction have been
recorded as major contributing factors for its decline.[1]
Mertens & L. Mller, 1928
Habitat
Pelias subalpina A.F. Reuss, 1930
Sufficient habitat complexity is a crucial requirement for the

presence of this species, in order to support their various behaviors
basking, foraging, and hibernationas well as to offer some
protection from predators and human harassment.[3] It is found in
variety of habitats, including: chalky downs, rocky hillsides, moors,
sandy heaths, meadows, rough commons, edges of woods, sunny
glades and clearings, bushy slopes and hedgerows, dumps, coastal
dunes, and stone quarries. They will venture into wetlands if dry
ground is available nearby and thus may be found on the banks of
streams, lakes, and ponds.[22]
Pelias neglecta A.F. Reuss, 1932
[Pelias] elberfeldi A.F. Reuss, 1929

Pelias rudolphi A.F. Reuss, 1930
Pelias schttleri A.F. Reuss, 1930
P[elias]. tyrolensis A.F. Reuss, 1930
Pelias schreiberi A.F. Reuss, 1930
Pelias flavescens A.F. Reuss, 1930
(nomen nudum)
(nomen nudum)
Vipera berus sphagnosa
Krassawzef, 1932
Pelias occidentalis A.F. Reuss,

1933
Pelias occidentalis oldesloensis

A.F. Reuss, 1933
Pelias occidentalis orbensis

A.F. Reuss, 1933
In much of southern Europe, such as southern France and northern

Italy, it is found in either low lying wetlands or at high altitudes. In
the Swiss Alps, it may ascend to about 3,000 m (9,842 ft). In
Hungary and Russia, it avoids open steppeland; a habitat in which
(nomen nudum)
(nomen nudum)
Pelias sudetica forma steinii

A.F. Reuss, 1935
(nomen nudum)
Vipera marchici A.F. Reuss, 1935
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V. ursinii is more likely to occur. In Russia, however, it does occur

in the forest steppe zone.[22]
Pelias sudetica steinii forma

emarcata A.F. Reuss, 1937 (nomen
illegitimum)
Vipera (Vipera) berus berus
Obst, 1983
Vipera berus forma

brunneomarcata
Golay et al., 1993
Vipera berus forma

ochracea-asymmetrica Golay et
al., 1993
Vipera berus forma luteoalba

Golay et al., 1993
Pelias schoettleri Golay et al.,

1993
Coluber coeruleus Golay et al.,

1993
Vipera berus Golay et al., 1993[2]
V. berus
Distribution in Europe
Behaviour
This species is mainly diurnal, especially in the north of its range.
Further south it is said[23] to be active in the evening, and it may even be
active at night during the summer months. It is predominantly a
terrestrial species, although it has been known to climb up banks and
into low bushes in order to bask or search for prey.[22]
V. berus female
Adders are not usually aggressive, tending to be rather timid and biting
only when cornered or alarmed. People are generally bitten only after
stepping on them or attempting to pick them up. They will usually disappear into the undergrowth at a hint of
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any danger, but will return once all is quiet, often to the same spot.
Occasionally, individual snakes will reveal their presence with a loud
and sustained hissing, hoping to warn off potential aggressors. Often,
these turn out to be pregnant females. When the adder is threatened, the
front part of the body is drawn into an S-shape to prepare for a strike.[22]
V. berus male
The species is cold-adapted and hibernates in the winter. In Great

Britain, males and females hibernate for about 150 and 180 days
respectively. In northern Sweden hibernation lasts 89 months. On mild
winter days, they may emerge to bask where the snow has melted and
will often travel across snow. About 15% of adults and 3040% of
juveniles die during hibernation.[3]
Feeding
Diet consists mainly of small mammals, such as mice, voles, and shrews, as well as lizards. Sometimes, slow
worms are taken, and even weasels and moles. They feed on amphibians, such as frogs, newts, and salamanders.
Birds are also reported[24] to be on the menu, especially nestlings and even eggs, for which they will climb into
shrubbery and bushes. Generally, diet varies depending on locality.[22] Juveniles will eat nestling mammals,
small lizards and frogs as well as worms and spiders. Once they reach about 30 cm (1 ft) in length, their diet
begins to resemble that of the adults.[3]
Reproduction
In Hungary, mating takes place in the last week of April, while in the north it happens later in the second week
of May. Matings have also been observed in June and even early October, but it is not known if the autumn
matings result in any young.[3] Females often breed once every two years,[22] or even once every three years if
the seasons are short and the climate is severe.[3]
Males find females by following their scent trails, sometimes tracking
them for hundreds of meters a day. If a female is found and flees, the
male follows. Courtship involves side-by-side parallel "flowing"
behavior, tongue flicking along the back and excited lashing of the tail.
Pairs stay together for one or two days after mating. Males chase away
their rivals and engage in combat. Often, this also starts with the
aforementioned flowing behavior before culminating in the dramatic
"adder dance."[3] In this act, the males confront each other, raise up the
front part of the body vertically, make swaying movements and attempt
to push each other to the ground. This is repeated until one of the two
V. berus showing strongly keeled
becomes exhausted and crawls off to find another mate. Interestingly,
scales on dorsal area.
Appleby (1971) notes that he has never seen an intruder win one of these
contests, as if the frustrated defender is so aroused by courtship that he
[25]
refuses to lose his chance to mate.
There are no records of any biting taking place during these bouts.[22]
Females usually give birth in August or September, but sometimes as early as July, or as late as early October.
Litters range in size from 3 to 20. The young are usually born encased in a transparent sac from which they
must free themselves. Sometimes, they succeed in freeing themselves from this membrane while still inside the
female. The neonates measure 14 to 23 centimetres (5.5 to 9.1 in) in total length (including tail), with an
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average total length of 17 cm (6.7 in). They are born with a fully functional venom apparatus and a reserve
supply of yolk within their bodies. They shed their skins for the first time within a day or two. Females do not
appear to take much interest in their offspring, but the young have been observed to remain near their mothers
for several days after birth.[22]
Venom
Because of the rapid rate of human expansion throughout the range of this species, bites are relatively common.
Domestic animals and livestock are frequent victims. In Great Britain, most instances occur in MarchOctober.
In Sweden, there are about 1,300 bites a year, with an estimated 12% that require hospitalisation.[3] At least
eight different antivenoms are available against bites from this species.[26]
Mallow et al. (2003) describe the venom toxicity as being relatively low compared to other viper species. They
cite Minton (1974) who reported the LD50 values for mice to be 0.55 mg/kg IV, 0.80 mg/kg IP and 6.45 mg/kg
SC. As a comparison, in one test the minimum lethal dose of for a guinea pig was 4067 mg, but only 1.7 mg
was necessary when Daboia russelii venom was used.[3] Brown (1973) gives a higher subcutaneous LD50 range
of 1.04.0 mg/kg.[14] All agree that the venom yield is low: Minton (1974) mentions 1018 mg for specimens
4862 cm (1924 in) in length,[3] while Brown (1973) lists only 6 mg.[14]
Relatively speaking, bites from this species are not highly dangerous.[3]
In Britain there have been only 14 known fatalities since 1876; the last a
5-year-old child in 1975.[6] and one near fatal bite of a 39-year-old
woman in Essex in 1998.[6] An 82-year-old woman died following a bite
in Germany in 2004, although it is not clear whether her death was due
to the effect of the venom.[27] Even so, professional medical help should
always be sought as soon as possible after any bite. Very occasionally
bites can be life-threatening, particularly in small children, while adults
may experience discomfort and disability long after the bite.[6] The
length of recovery varies, but may take up to a year.[3]
Vipera berus; the one erect fang has

left a small venom stain on the glove.
Local symptoms include immediate and intense pain, followed after a

few minutes (but perhaps by as much as 30 minutes) by swelling and a tingling sensation. Blisters containing
blood are not common. The pain may spread within a few hours, along with tenderness and inflammation.
Reddish lymphangitic lines and bruising may appear, and the whole limb can become swollen and bruised
within 24 hours. Swelling may also spread to the trunk, and with children, throughout the entire body. Necrosis
and intracompartmental syndromes are very rare.[6]
Systemic symptoms resulting from anaphylaxis can be dramatic. These may appear within 5 minutes post bite,
or can be delayed for many hours. Such symptoms include nausea, retching and vomiting, abdominal colic and
diarrhoea, incontinence of urine and faeces, sweating, fever, vasoconstriction, tachycardia, lightheadedness, loss
of consciousness, blindness,[28] shock, angioedema of the face, lips, gums, tongue, throat and epiglotis, urticaria
and bronchospam. If left untreated, these symptoms may persist or fluctuate for up to 48 hours.[6] In severe
cases, cardiovascular failure may occur.[3]
Taxonomy
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The species has three recognised subspecies :

Subspecies[8]
Taxon author[8]
Common name
V. b. berus
(Linnaeus, 1758) Common European adder[3]
V. b. bosniensis
Boettger, 1889
V. b. sachalinensis Zarevskij, 1917
Geographic range
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Estonia,
Lithuania, France, Denmark, Germany,
Austria, Switzerland, Northern Italy,
Belgium, Netherlands, Great Britain,
Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary, Romania, Russia, Mongolia,
Northwest China (north Xinjiang)
Balkan cross adder[13]
Balkan Peninsula
Sakhalin Island adder[12]
Russian Far East (Amur Oblast,

Primorskye Kray, Khabarovsk Kray,
Sakhalin Island), North Korea, Northeast
China (Jilin)
The subspecies V. b. bosniensis and V. b. sachalinensis have been regarded as full species in some recent
publications.[3]
See also
List of viperine species and subspecies
Viperinae by common name
Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
List of reptiles of Italy
References
1. Isailovic, Jelka Crnobrnja, et al. (2009). Vipera berus (http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/157248/1). In: IUCN 2012.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2.
2. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Tour T. (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference,
Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN
1-893777-01-4 (volume).
3. Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar,
Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
4. Stidworthy J. (1974). Snakes of the World. New York: Grosset & Dunlap Inc. 160 pp. ISBN 0-448-11856-4.
5. "Everyday Adders the Adder in Folklore" (http://www.crislis.co.uk/adder/folklore.htm). The Herpetological
Conservation Trust. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
6. Warrell DA (2005). "Treatment of bites by adders and exotic venomous snakes" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
/pmc/articles/PMC1289323). British Medical Journal 331 (7527): 12441247. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1244
(https://dx.doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.331.7527.1244). PMC 1289323 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles
/PMC1289323). PMID 16308385 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16308385).
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0-7137-1704-1.
8. "Vipera berus" (http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634988).
Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 15 August 2006.
9. "adder" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adder). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. Retrieved
7 February 2010.
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10. U.S. Navy. (1991). Poisonous Snakes of the World. United States Government. New York: Dover Publications Inc.
232 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
11. Vipera berus (http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Vipera&species=berus) at the Reptarium.cz
Reptile Database (http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/). Accessed 21 November 2007.
12. Mehrtens JM. (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN
0-8069-6460-X.
13. Steward JW. (1971). The Snakes of Europe. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson
University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307. ISBN 0-8386-1023-4.
14. Brown JH. (1973). Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C.
Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
15. Olsson, M.; Madsen, T.; Shine, R. (1997). "Is sperm really so cheap? Costs of reproduction in male adders,Vipera
berus" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1688262). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological
Sciences 264 (1380): 455459. doi:10.1098/rspb.1997.0065 (https://dx.doi.org/10.1098%2Frspb.1997.0065).
JSTOR 50437 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/50437). PMC 1688262 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles
/PMC1688262). (includes chart showing range of male mass in one population)
16. Strugariu, Alexandru; Zamfirescu, tefan R.; Gherghel, Iulian (2009). "First record of the adder (Vipera berus berus)
in Arge County (Southern Romania)" (http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=abstract&id=476009). Biharean Biologist 3
(2): 164. (gives example masses of females).
17. Krecsk L, Wahlgren R. (2008). "A survey of the Linnaean type material of Coluber berus, Coluber chersea and
Coluber prester (Serpentes, Viperidae)". Journal of Natural History 42 (3536): 2343.
doi:10.1080/00222930802126888 (https://dx.doi.org/10.1080%2F00222930802126888).
18. "Adder (Vipera berus)" (http://www.arkive.org/adder/vipera-berus/facts-and-status.html). Arkive (Images of life on
Earth). www.wildscreen.org.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2010.. This ref cites Beebee T, & Griffiths R. (2000)
Amphibians and Reptiles: a Natural History of the British Herpetofauna. (http://books.google.com
/books?id=JMF1QgAACAAJ) London: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. as the source.
19. Monney JC, Meyer A. (2005). Rote Liste der gefhrdeten Reptilien der Schweiz. Hrsg. Bundesamt fr Umwelt, Wald
und Landschaft BUWAL, Bern und Koordinationsstelle fr Amphibien- und Reptilienschutz der Schweiz, Bern.
BUWAL-Reihe.
20. Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix III (http://web.archive.org
/web/20110302135536/http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/reports/html/185.htm) at Council of Europe
(http://archive.is/20120708175230/http://conventions.coe.int/). Accessed 7 February 2010.
21. "IV: The Categories" (http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/categories-and-criteria/2001-categoriescriteria). 2001 IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria version 3.1. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
22. Street D. (1979). The Reptiles of Northern and Central Europe. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. 272 pp. ISBN
0-7134-1374-3.
23. (http://www.archive.org/details/snakesofeurope00boul)Boulenger GA. (1913). Snakes of Europe. London: Methuen
& Co. xi + 269 pp. (Vipera berus, pp. 230-239, Figure 35).
24. Leighton, Gerald R. (1901). The Life-History of British Serpents and Their Local Distribution in the British Isles
(http://books.google.com/?id=7i_8ZmymfMoC). Edinburgh & London: Blackwood & Sons. p. 84.
ISBN 1-4446-3091-1. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
25. Appleby LG. (1971). British Snakes. London: J. Baker. 150 pp. ISBN 0-212-98393-8.
26. Vipera berus antivenoms (http://www.toxinfo.org/antivenoms/indication/VIPERA_BERUS.html) at Munich
Antivenom Index (http://www.toxinfo.org/antivenoms/). Accessed 15 September 2006.
27. Tod durch Kreuzotterbiss? (http://www.ggiz-erfurt.de/aktuelles/akt_press_04_juli_kreuzotter_ostsee.htm) at
Gemeinsames Giftinformationszentrum (http://www.ggiz-erfurt.de/). A 44 year old man was left seriously injured aye
he was bitten by an Adder at the Go-Ape adventure park in Dalby, Burgh Yorkshire UK. Accessed 25 May 2007.
28. Macrae, Fiona (21 July 2010) Adder bite leaves father blinded, choking and just minutes from death on walk with
family (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1296520/Adder-bite-leaves-father-blinded-choking-just-minutesdeath-walk-family.html). The Daily Mail, retrieved on 21 July 2010.
Further reading
Ananjeva NB, Borkin LJ, Darevsky IS, Orlov NL. 1998. [Amphibians and Reptiles. Encyclopedia of Nature of
Russia]. Moscow: ABF. (in Russian).
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10 of 11
Arnold EN, Burton JA. 1978. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins.
272 pp. ISBN 0-00-219318-3. (Vipera berus, pp. 217218 + Plate 39 + Map 122).
Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing
the...Viperid. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727
pp. + Plates I.- XXV. (Vipera berus, pp. 476481).
Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR. 1978. Introduction to Herpetology: Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman. xi +
378 pp. ISBN 0-7167-0020-4. (Vipera berus, pp. 122, 188, 334).
Jan G, Sordelli F. 1874. Iconographie gnrale des Ophidiens: Quarante-cinquime Livraison. Paris: Baillire. Index
+ Plates I.- VI. (Vipera berus, Plate II, Figure 1; var. prester, Plate II, Figures 2-4; var. concolor, Plate II, Figure 5;
var. lymnaea, Plate II, Figure 6).
Joger U, Lenk P, Baran I, Bhme W, Ziegler T, Heidrich P, Wink M. 1997. The phylogenetic position of Vipera
barani and of Vipera nikolskii within the Vipera berus complex. Herpetologica Bonnensis 185-194.
Linnaeus C. 1758. Systema natur per regna tria natur, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum
characteribus, diferentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 824 pp.
(Coluber berus, p. 217).
Minton SA Jr. 1974. Venom Diseases. Springfield, Illinois: CC Thomas Publ. 256 pp. ISBN 978-0-398-03051-3.
Morris PA. 1948. Boy's Book of Snakes: How to Recognize and Understand Them. A volume of the Humanizing
Science Series, edited by Jacques Cattell. New York: Ronald Press. viii + 185 pp. (The common viper, Vipera berus,
pp. 154155, 182).
Wster W, Allum CSE, Bjargardottir IB, Bailey KL, Dawson KJ, Guenioui J, Lewis J, McGurk J, Moore AG,
Niskanen M, Pollard CP. 2004. Do aposematism and Batesian mimicry require bright colours? A test, using European
viper markings. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 271: 24952499. PDF (http://www.bangor.ac.uk
/~bss166/Publications/2004_Viper_Aposematism_online.pdf) at Wolfgang Wster, School of Biological Sciences,
University of Wales, Bangor (http://www.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/). Accessed on 15 August 2006.
External links
[1] (http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin
Wikimedia Commons has
/sarg2reptilespeciesdata.asp?species=adder#Predators)
media related to Vipera
Vipera berus (http://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/cgi-bin
berus.
/SARG2ReptileSpeciesData.asp?Species=Adder) at Surrey
Amphibian and Reptile Group (SARG) (http://www.surreyWikispecies has
information related to:
arg.org.uk)
Vipera berus
Vipera berus European Field Herping Community
(http://www.euroherp.com/species.php?sp=181)
Wikisource has the text of
Vipera berus (http://www.herp.it/SpeciesPages/ViperBerus.htm) at
the 1921 Collier's
Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe (http://www.herp.it/).
Encyclopedia article
Accessed on 16 August 2006.
Adder.
Vipera berus (http://www.arkive.org/adder/vipera-berus/) media at
ARKive
Adder or Viper Vipera berus (http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/adder.htm) at Reptiles and Amphibians of
the UK (http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/). Accessed 9 October 2006.
Vipera berus (http://www.club100.net/species/V_berus/V_berus.html) at Club100
(http://www.club100.net/). Accessed 9 October 2006.
Viper berus Adder (http://www.first-nature.com/reptiles/vipera_berus.htm) at First Nature
(http://www.first-nature.com/). Accessed 9 October 2006.
Adder (Vipera berus) (http://www.wartsoc.co.uk/gallery/warksR.php) at Warwickshire Amphibian and
Reptile Team (http://www.wartsoc.co.uk/herpetofauna.htm). Accessed 11 February 2010 .
Adder, Vipera berus (http://www.herpfrance.com/reptile/adder_vipera_berus.php) at Reptiles &
Amphibians of France (http://www.herpfrance.com/). Accessed 6 June 2008.
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Vipera berus images (http://en.hribi.net/zivali.asp?id=4) at Hribi.net (http://en.hribi.net/). Accessed 7

February 2010.
Snakes (http://web.archive.org/web/20080413000721/http://www.froglife.org/speciesIDsReptiles.htm) at
Froglife, UK (now part of Amphibian & reptile conservation Trust) (http://www.arc-trust.org/). Dead site
archived by www.archive.org. Accessed 11 February 2010.
Add an Adder (http://www.adder.org.uk/) (UK Herpetological Conservation Trust). Accessed 31
December 2007.
James Stroud Research and Contact Details (http://www2.hull.ac.uk/scarborough/campus-departments
/environmental-and-marine-scien/staff/cems-postgraduate/james-stroud.aspx) (University of Hull, UK)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vipera_berus&oldid=668797474"
Categories: IUCN Red List least concern species Viperinae Reptiles of Europe Reptiles of Asia
Reptiles of Russia Fauna of Siberia Arctic land animals Aposematic species Animals described in 1758
Endangered species of the British Isles
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Vipera berus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vipera berus, the common European adder[3] or common

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]