Length: 60 cm average; 90 cm maximum

Description:

This is a comparatively slender, smooth-scaled adder whose head is no broader than its neck.  It can be recognised by the well-defined V-shaped marking on the back of the head which reaches forward to between the eyes, and the squarish markings along the back.  These markings are either black over grey, or dark brown over light brown, although in the berg they tend to be of the former combination.  As its name suggests, this snake is almost strictly nocturnal.  It is most likely to be encountered in damp environments such as the indigenous forests found in the berg.  It is a comparatively placid snake but can put on a show of great ferocity, coiling its body in a continuous circling motion, hissing loudly and striking out viciously before making off with its head held well off the ground.

Biology:

The diet consists mainly of frogs, lizards and small rodents.  From 12 to 26 eggs are laid in summer.

Poisoning Symptoms:

The venom is mildly cytotoxic (cell-destroying).  Most bites result in only minimal swelling with painful enlargement of the glands in the affected limb.  These symptoms disappear after a few days.

Treatment:

This is not a serious emergency unless positive identification of the snake has not been achieved.  Calm and immobilise the victim.  Use a suction kit if you have one (the Aspivenin kit is highly recommended).  APPLY A PRESSURE BANDAGE.  Contact a Poison Information Centre and hospitalise the victim as soon as possible.  Antivenin has no effect against the venom of this species.

Remarks:

During a youth hike a youngster ventured barefoot out of Leopard Cave during the night to answer a call of nature.  Later, after returning to bed, he awoke complaining of a headache, nausea and a sore foot.  On inspection the leader found two puncture wounds in his foot.  As a precaution he was evacuated to hospital in the morning but suffered no further ill effects and made a quick recovery.  He was lucky – night adders are common in this heavily forested area.  He could have been bitten by a puff adder or berg adder, in which case his plight would have been far more serious!