Night Adder

Causus rhombeatus

Geographical Locale

• Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Appearance

• Head has a dark brown or black V-shaped mark, the top of which points forward and finishes between the eyes.
• Colouring varies from light browny-pink to light grey.
• Diamond shaped darker markings are found on the back and tail – these are sometimes bordered with white.
• Adults average about .5metres in length and seldom exceed 3.2'.
• Body is cylindrical and reasonably slender.
• Venom glands are extremely long – up to 4" – and found on either side of the spine connecting up to the fangs.
• Poor eye sight and a keen sense of smell.
• Often confused with Egg Eating Snakes (Dasypeltis).

Venom

• Cytotoxic – cell damaging.
• Venom has relatively low toxicity.

The Bite

• Extremely painful with swelling at the bite wound.

Lifecycle

• Oviparous; females laying up to 24 eggs more than once a year.
• Eggs are incubated for about four months.
• Hatchlings average 5" in length.

Habits

• Prefers damp or moist habitats & usually makes its home under rocks or logs and in old termite mounds; often close to rivers or lakes.
• An extremely slow moving, non-aggressive snake.
• Only likely to attack if cornered or provoked.
• Basks during the day and hunts at night.
• Diet consists almost exclusively of frogs and toads.
• Hatchlings feed on tadpoles.