A female can be up to 750mm in length and usually has a brown colour; males are smaller, up to 600mm, and have a light grey colour..In Scotland, both males and females can be black in their more northern ranges, but on close inspection, in sunshine, the black zig-zag pattern is still visible against the blue black of the scales.
A snake with a distinctive black zig-zag pattern down its back.
Discover more about the Adder
When to see
In spring, both sexes emerge from their shared underground hibernation sites. They are thin and dull in colour. Before starting the breeding season they usually shed (slough) their old skin. Sometimes males can be seen sparring with each other to compete to mate with a female. During the day adders need to warm themselves before becoming active and will curl up and sun themselves, for example in a warm period after a rain shower. Adders see movement, feel vibration and have a very good sense of smell (using their tongue to taste the air) so they have to be approached carefully. The female adder carries her developing eggs inside her. The hatching young are about 75 mm long and are born in September. Adults and young hibernate together underground in late September.
Where to see
Adders are found in sheltered sunny areas on woodland edges, in upland areas and on dry moorland and are present throughout suitable habitat in Scotland.
Did you know?
Adders are protected and should not be harmed. They can eat up to nine small rodents in a year, as well as an occasional common lizard. Although adders are poisonous snakes they are not dangerous except to small children and the infirm.
When to see
In spring, both sexes emerge from their shared underground hibernation sites. They are thin and dull in colour. Before starting the breeding season they usually shed (slough) their old skin. Sometimes males can be seen sparring with each other to compete to mate with a female. During the day adders need to warm themselves before becoming active and will curl up and sun themselves, for example in a warm period after a rain shower. Adders see movement, feel vibration and have a very good sense of smell (using their tongue to taste the air) so they have to be approached carefully. The female adder carries her developing eggs inside her. The hatching young are about 75 mm long and are born in September. Adults and young hibernate together underground in late September.
Where to see
Adders are found in sheltered sunny areas on woodland edges, in upland areas and on dry moorland and are present throughout suitable habitat in Scotland.
Did you know?
Adders are protected and should not be harmed. They can eat up to nine small rodents in a year, as well as an occasional common lizard. Although adders are poisonous snakes they are not dangerous except to small children and the infirm.
When to see
In spring, both sexes emerge from their shared underground hibernation sites. They are thin and dull in colour. Before starting the breeding season they usually shed (slough) their old skin. Sometimes males can be seen sparring with each other to compete to mate with a female. During the day adders need to warm themselves before becoming active and will curl up and sun themselves, for example in a warm period after a rain shower. Adders see movement, feel vibration and have a very good sense of smell (using their tongue to taste the air) so they have to be approached carefully. The female adder carries her developing eggs inside her. The hatching young are about 75 mm long and are born in September. Adults and young hibernate together underground in late September.
Where to see
Adders are found in sheltered sunny areas on woodland edges, in upland areas and on dry moorland and are present throughout suitable habitat in Scotland.
Did you know?
Adders are protected and should not be harmed. They can eat up to nine small rodents in a year, as well as an occasional common lizard. Although adders are poisonous snakes they are not dangerous except to small children and the infirm.
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OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES
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Registered Company No: 303299 | Registered address: Wild Scotland, Suite 212, 8 Church Street, Inverness IV1 1EA