Red adder

This article is about the snake native to Africa. For the snake native to North America, see Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen.

The red adder (Bitis rubida) is a viper species found only in Western Cape Province, South Africa. No subspecies are currently recognised.^[3] Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Red adder
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Bitis
Species:	B. rubida
Binomial name
Bitis rubida Branch, 1997
Synonyms[2]
Bitis inornata — FitzSimons, 1946 (part) Bitis cornuta albanica — FitzSimons, 1962 (part) Bitis cornuta cornuta — Haacke, 1975 (part) Bitis cornuta cornuta — Visser, 1979 (part) Bitis caudalis — Visser, 1979 (part) Bitis cornuta inornata — Broadley, 1983 (part) Bitis inornata — Branch, 1988 (part) Bitis cornuta albanica — Broadley, 1990 (part) Bitis inornata — M. Burger, 1992 (part) B[itis]. cornuta albanica — M. Burger, 1992 (part) B[itis]. inornata — M. Burger, 1993 (part) B[itis]. cornuta albanica — M. Burger, 1993 (part) Bitis inornata — Spawls & Branch, 1995 (part) Bitis inornata — Branch & Bauer, 1995 (part) Bitis rubida Branch, 1997

Taxonomy

Bitis rubida was described as a new species in 1997 by William Roy "Bill" Branch. Prior to that time, specimens of this snake had been identified as belonging to several other species and subspecies of the genus Bitis (see "Synonyms" in "Taxobox"). The type locality given is "Jeep track above Farm Driehoek, Cederberg Mountains, Western Cape Province, South Africa; 32°25'44"S, 19°12'30"E, alt. 1380 m [4,528 ft]; 3219AC."^[2]

The common name is "red adder".^[4]

Description

Maximum recorded total lengths (body + tail) are 41.9 cm (16.5 in) for females and 37.7 cm (14.8 in) for males.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

Several isolated populations are found in the northern Cape Fold Mountains and inland escarpment in Western Cape Province, South Africa.