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Attentive adder

When watching or disturbed the adders can raise high out of the grass.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

The EUROPEAN ADDERS's Total (body+tail) length up to 80 cm, males usually shorter. Body short and bulky, tail short, head well-defined. Pupils vertical. Ground colour grey or whitish-, yellowish-grey in males and brown or reddish in females, with a dark (black in males, dark brown in females) zig-zag pattern from head to end of tail. Large dark (same colour as of the zig-zag pattern) blotches along the flank. A conspicuous X or Λ shaped pattern on back of head. Belly is grey, grey brown or black. Underside of tail-tip yellow in both sexes. Jet black (melanistic) specimens are frequently found, especially in lowland populations. Scales keeled.

Distibution map by our National Herpetological Mapping Program:

Melanisticly coloured European adder

The nearly totally black colour morphs are rare, but not totally exceptionel.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Dorsal pattern of European adder

Its back is characteristic dark zig-zag pattern on grey basal colour.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Head of European adder

On its head dark Y-shape pattern can be seen.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

European adder portrait

Dark stripe starts behind its eyes.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Head of European adder

There is a stronger and larger plate above its eyes, making it eyebrow like look.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Basking European adder

They may be found basking on edges of forests and bushes or grass tussocks.

(photo: Tibor Kovács)

Portrait of European adder

On this picture a characteristic viper feature: the vertical orientation pupil can be clearly seen.

(photo: Nikola Rahmé)

European adder

Its iris is usually reddish.

(photo: Nikola Rahmé)

Juvenile European adder

The newborn vipers are usually 15-20 cm long.

(Szivárványhártyája piros)