Common night adder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common night adder |
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Causus rhombeatus
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The common night adder is a type of venomous snake found in sub-Saharan Africa. It belongs to the viper family. These snakes are known for their interesting patterns and how they behave.
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About the Common Night Adder
The common night adder can grow quite long! Most of these snakes are about 60 centimeters (24 inches) in length. The longest one ever found was a male in Zimbabwe, measuring a huge 93 centimeters (about 37 inches)!
What They Look Like
Common night adders usually have colors like olive green, brown, or grayish-brown. Many have cool black diamond-shaped patterns on their bodies. These patterns are called "rhombic blotches." However, some common night adders do not have these blotches.
Other Names for This Snake
People call the common night adder by a few different names. Some of these names include the "rhombic night adder," the "demon night adder," the "Cape Viper," and the "African night adder."
Where They Live
The common night adder lives in the savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa. You can find them in many countries, from Nigeria in the west to Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya in the east. They also live south in places like Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their home range also includes Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, northern Botswana, Mozambique, Eswatini, and eastern South Africa.
How Common Night Adders Behave
The common night adder is a fairly fast snake. It can move at a speed of about 3.3 kilometers per hour (about 2 miles per hour). They are usually found on the ground, but they are also good climbers and can swim.
Daily Habits
These snakes are mostly nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. However, some have been seen warming up in the sun during the early morning or late afternoon. When a common night adder feels bothered, it will coil up its body. It will also inflate its body, which makes its black patterns stand out. Then, it starts hissing loudly to warn off danger.
Reproduction
Common night adders are different from most other vipers. They are oviparous, which means they lay eggs. Most other vipers give birth to live young. A female common night adder usually lays about two dozen eggs at a time. These eggs take about four months to hatch. When the young snakes hatch, they are small, only about 10 to 12.5 centimeters (4 to 5 inches) long.
What They Eat
The diet of common night adders is mainly made up of frogs and toads. Sometimes, they also eat small mammals like mice and rats. The young snakes, when they first hatch, also eat small frogs and toads.
