Stats

Lifespan

10-15 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Nocturnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Savannah and grasslands

Range

Africa and Arabia

Movement

Slithering

Breeding

Live Birth

Defense

Camouflage, Venom

Status

Uncommon

About

This heavy-bodied viper lives in the grasslands and savannahs across Africa. It can strike at speeds reaching one quarter of a second to inject its potent venom.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Viperidae

Genus

Bitis

Species

Bitis arietans