The puff adder is one of the deadliest snakes in Africa, and also an expert at camouflage.
Can you spot the puff adder in the accompanying image, or in the footage before the narrator zooms in? (Footage posted below.)
Or, as asked by Watamu Snake Farm in Kenya: “Would you have stepped on it?”
As for the image, look just left of the dangling gold leaf and good luck. The answer is best provided in the footage as the narrator discusses the snake’s ability to remain hidden while it “lies in wait.”
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A few facts about puff adders, courtesy of Siyabona Africa:
–The puff adder gets its name for its propensity to inflate itself and hiss when threatened.
–The puff adder’s venom causes swelling, blisters, and tissue damage. Snake bite victims are urged to seek medical help as quickly as possible. (Most fatalities occur because of a secondary infection or improper medial care.)
–The puff adder is extra dangerous because it typically holds its ground when danger approaches, relying on camouflage. It will not retreat from footsteps and it will bite if stepped upon.
From Siyabona Africa: “The Puff Adder is responsible for more bites and fatalities in Africa than any other snake due to its habit of not moving away from approaching footsteps, instead blowing out air as a warning, hence the name.”