Bitis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bitis |
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| A Gaboon Viper, Bitis gabonica | |
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Bitis
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Bitis is a group of venomous viper snakes. You can find them in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. This group includes some of the biggest and smallest vipers in the world. There are currently 14 known types, or species, of Bitis snakes. People often call them "African Adders" or "African Vipers."
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About Bitis Snakes
The Bitis group is special because it has both the largest and smallest vipers on Earth. The biggest viper is the Gaboon Viper. It can grow up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) long! On the other hand, the smallest viper is the Namaqua Dwarf Adder. It only grows to about 28 centimeters (around 11 inches) long.
What They Look Like
All African Adders have a few things in common. They usually have wide, triangle-shaped heads. Their snouts are often large and rounded. They also have small eyes.
Where They Live
These interesting snakes live in two main areas. You can find them across much of Africa. They also live in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula.
How They Behave
African Adders mostly live on the ground. This means they are "terrestrial." They like to wait quietly for their food to come by. This way of hunting is called "ambush hunting."
Even though they can seem slow, they can bite very quickly. If something bothers them, African Adders often puff up their bodies. They also make a loud hissing sound to warn others. All African Adders give birth to live young. This is called being "viviparous." They do not lay eggs.
What They Eat
These snakes eat many different small animals. Their diet includes small rodents like mice and rats. They also eat birds and amphibians. This means they might eat frogs and toads. Sometimes, they even eat other snakes.
Types of Bitis Snakes
Here are some of the different types of Bitis snakes:
- Puff Adder, B. arietans
- Berg Adder, B. atropos
- Horned Adder, B. caudalis
- Many-horned Adder, B. cornuta
- Gaboon Viper, B. gabonica
- Angolan Adder, B. heraldica
- Plain Mountain Adder, B. inornata
- Rhinoceros Viper, B. nasicornis
- Ethiopian Mountain Adder, B. parviocula
- Peringuey's Desert Adder, B. peringueyi
- Red Adder, B. rubida
- Namaqua Dwarf Adder, B. schneideri
- Kenya Horned Viper, B. worthingtoni
- Desert Mountain Adder, B. xeropaga
