Alternate name: Puff Adder
Family: Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes view all from this family
Description 20-45 1/2" (50.8-115.6 cm). A stout-bodied snake with pointed, slightly upturned snout and wide neck. Color extremely variable: yellow, tan, brown, gray, or reddish with squarish dark blotches on back interspaced with round dark dorsolateral blotches. All-black individuals common in some areas. Belly mottled; underside of tail conspicuously lighter than belly color. Scales keeled, in 23-25 rows. Anal plate divided.
Breeding Mates spring and fall. Lays 4-61 elongate, thin-shelled eggs, about 1 1/4" (32 mm) long, June to July (May in Texas, to late August in northerly areas), in a shallow cavity in loose or sandy soil. Young, 6 1/2-9 1/2" (16.5-24 cm) long, hatch in 39-65 days.
Habitat Prefers open sandy-soiled areas; thinly wooded upland hillsides, cultivated fields, woodland meadows; sea level to 2,500' (750 m).
Range Ec. Minnesota to extreme s. New Hampshire south to s. Florida, west to e. Texas and w. Kansas.
Discussion Commonly called puff, or spreading, adder or blow viper. Active in the daytime. Burrows deep into loose earth during cold winter months. When disturbed, it "hoods" its neck, inflates its body, hisses loudly, and strikes. If this fails to discourage a would-be predator, it rolls over and plays dead with mouth agape and tongue hanging out. It becomes limp and will remain "dead" when picked up; however, it will roll over again if placed right-side up. In captivity it loses willingness to display such behavior. Enlarged teeth on rear upper jaw are believed to inject mild venom into toads and frogs upon which it feeds. It rarely bites people.
