The Cold Blooded News

The Newsletter of the Colorado Herpetological Society

Volume 28, Number 5; May, 2001

The Adaptable Adder

by Ed Ferrer

Reprinted from The Monitor, the Newsletter of the Hoosier Herpetological Society, Vol.12, No.3, March 2001.

Books often tell about the amazing variety of snakes throughout the world and normally count between 2.400 to over 3,000 species. Indeed the snake is a highly successful life form. But which snake is the most widespread and adaptable of all these different varieties? My vote for the most widespread and adaptable snake specie would have to go to the adder or Northern viper, Vipera berus. It has the largest geographical range of any terrestrial species. It can be found in Britain and Scandinavia, through much of central Europe, across northern Asia as far as the Pacific Ocean. It also occurs on the island of Sakhalin, north of Japan. In the southern part of its range it is restricted by mountain ranges but otherwise it has an almost continuous distribution. It can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including moors and heaths, meadows, woodlands and marshes. There are only three recognized subspecies for this remarkable serpent. Vipera berus bosniensis, is found in parts of the Balkan region and Vipera berus sachalinensis is found on the Sakhalin Island and on the mainland of extreme eastern Asia. Throughout the rest of its range, the nominate form, Vipera berus berus is found.

The adder also occurs further north than any other snake species. It has been found well inside the Arctic circle, at a latitude of 69 degrees north in Scandinavia. The adder shows little variation throughout its range. The ground color, and the contrast between its zigzag pattern and background may vary slightly. Sometimes a totally black form appears. Often the black forms make up a substantial portion of populations found toward the northern most part of its range. It is possible that the dark coloration enhances its ability to warm up quickly and thus gains a predatory advantage over lighter colored specimens. It is quite rare that an ectothermic (cold-blooded) animal should be so successful in such a cold, northerly climate. In parts of its range it may be forced to hibernate for eight months of the year, sometimes emerging in the spring when there are still patches of snow on the ground. The adaptable adder is truly an amazing snake survival story.

Reference:
Chris Mattison, The Encyclopedia of Snakes. London, UK, Blandford, 1995.

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