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Bitis caudalis (SMITH, 1839)

IUCN Red List - Bitis caudalis - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaViperidae, Viperinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Horned Adder
G: Gehörnte Puffotter 
SynonymVipera (Cerastes) caudalis SMITH 1839: 7
Vipera ocellata SMITH 1838: 92
Vipera (Cerastes) caudalis — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1854: 1446
Vipera caudalis — BOETTGER 1886: 6
Bitis caudalis — FITZSIMONS & BRAIN 1958
Bitis caudalis — HARDING & WELCH 1980
Bitis caudalis — AUERBACH 1987: 205
Bitis caudalis — WELCH 1994: 27
Bitis (Calechidna) caudalis — LENK et al. 1999
Bitis caudalis — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 361
Bitis caudalis — DOBIEY & VOGEL 2007
Bitis (Calechidna) caudalis — WITTENBERG et al. 2014
Bitis caudalis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 92
Bitis (Calechidna) caudalis — BARLOW et al. 2019
Bitis caudalis — STANDER 2023: 335 
DistributionNamibia, SW Angola, Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, S Zambia

Type locality: sandy districts north of the Cape Colony.  
Reproductionovoviviparous 
TypesSyntypes: BMNH 1865.5.4.15a-e; note in BMNH catalogue states that 1865.5.4.15e agrees well with original description. 
DiagnosisUnfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 1773 characters), are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. 
CommentVenomous!

Behavior: A small adder that puts up a bold fierce front when disturbed by writhing and hissing loudly. 
EtymologyNamed after Latin cauda = tail. 
References
  • Auerbach, R.D. 1987. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Botswana. Mokwepa Consultants, Botswana, 295 pp.
  • Barlow A, Wüster W, Kelly CMR, Branch WR, Phelps T, Tolley KA. 2019. Ancient habitat shifts and organismal diversification are decoupled in the African viper genus Bitis (Serpentes: Viperidae). J Biogeogr. 46: 1234– 1248 - get paper here
  • Barts, M. 2004. Dickfingergeckos - Pachydactylus turneri & Pachydactylus bibronii. Natur und Tier Verlag, Münster, 61 pp. - get paper here
  • Barts, Mirko 2018. Ein kleiner Reiseführer zu den Reptilien und Amphibien Namibias. Draco 16 (64): 6-23 [2015] - get paper here
  • Bates, M.F.; Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M.; Burger, M., Marais, J.; Alexander, G.J. & de Villliers, M.S. (eds.) 2014. Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, 512 pp.
  • Bauer, A.M., and Branch, W.R. 2003. The herpetofauna of the Richtersveld National Park, Northern Cape Province, Republic of South Africa. Herpetological Natural History 8: 111-160 [2001]
  • Bauer, Aaron M.; Branch, William R. & Haacke, Wulf D. 1993. The herpetofauna of the Kamanjab area and adjacent Damaraland, Namibia. Madoqua (Windhoek) 18 (2): 117-145. - get paper here
  • Berg, Philipp & Francois Theart 2022. Bildungsarbeit zur Vermeidung von Mensch-Schlange-Konflikten in Namibia. Elaphe 2022 (5): 46-53
  • Boettger, O. 1886. Beitrag zur Herpetologie und Malakozoologie Südwest-Afrikas. 1. Zur Kenntniss der Fauna von Angra Pequenia. Abh. senckenb. naturf. Ges. (Frankfurt) 1886: 3-29 - get paper here
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  • Broadley, D.G. 1972. The Horned Viper Bitis caudalis (A. Smith) in the Central Kalahari. Botswana Notes & Records 4: 263–264
  • Calvete, J.J.; Escolano, J.; Sanz, L. 2007. Snake venomics of bitis species reveals large intragenus venom toxin composition variation: application to taxonomy of congeneric taxa. Journal of Proteome Research 6(7):2732-2745 - get paper here
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  • DeNardo, D.F., J.V. Luna & M. Hwang 2002. Ambient Temperature Activity of Horned Adders, Bitis caudalis: How Cold is Too Cold? Journal of Herpetology 36 (4): 688-691. - get paper here
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  • Duméril, A. M. C., Bibron, G. & DUMÉRIL, A. H. A., 1854. Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième. Deuxième partie, comprenant l'histoire des serpents venimeux. Paris, Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret: i-xii + 781-1536 - get paper here
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  • Haacke, W.D. 1995. Life History Notes - Bitis caudalis. African Herp News (23): 45-45 - get paper here
  • Haagner, G. V. 1987. Life History Note: Bitis caudalis: Reproduction. J. Herp. Assoc. Africa (33): 38-38 - get paper here
  • Hauke, Tobias 2018. Namibia – Eindrücke während der Regenzeit. Draco 16 (64): 50-59 [2015] - get paper here
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  • Hoffmann, L. 1988. Note On The Ecology Of The Horned Adder, Bitis caudalis From Gobabeb, Namib - Naukluft Park. J. Herp. Assoc. Africa (35): 33-34 - get paper here
  • Hörold, Ralf 2020. Haltung und Nachzucht von Lepidodactylus lugubris (DUMERIL & BIBRON, 1836) als Aufzuchtfutter für Echsen fressende Schlangen. Ophidia 14 (1): 2-14
  • Jacobsen, N.H.G. 1986. Life History Note: Bitis caudalis: Reproduction. J. Herp. Assoc. Africa (32): 38-38 - get paper here
  • Lenk,P.; Herrmann,H. W.; Joger,U. & Wink,M. 1999. Phylogeny and taxonomic subdivision of Bitis (Reptilia: Viperidae) based on molecular evidence. Kaupia (Darmstadt) (8): 31-38 - get paper here
  • Lobón-Rovira J, Vaz Pinto P, S. Becker F, Tolley KA, Measey J, Bennet B, Boon B, de Sá S, Conradie W 2022. An updated herpetofaunal species inventory of Iona National Park in southwestern Angola. Check List 18(2): 289-321 - get paper here
  • Lobón-Rovira, J., Sierra, P., Portas, R., Pinto, P. V., & Martínez-Freiría, F. 2025. Noteworthy herpetological notes from Namibe Province, Angola. Herpetology Notes 18: 99-105
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