Many-horned Adder

The many-horned adder is a venomous viper species that thrives in the rocky desert regions along the Atlantic coast of southern Africa. These snakes are easily identified by the unique tufts of "horns" above each eye. They are relatively small and stout, typically measuring between 30 to 50 cm in length. Their appearance is characterized by two to five raised horn-like scales above each eye and a grey to reddish-brown body marked with dark brown blotches along their back.

This snake is known by several names, including many-horned adder, hornsman, western hornsman adder, and western many-horned adder. They can be found in coastal southwest Namibia and extending through the west and southwest Cape Province in South Africa, with a few isolated populations in the eastern Cape Province. They have a particular affinity for rocky desert areas with dwarf succulent plants and mountain slopes featuring heathland vegetation.

Known for their nervous disposition, many-horned adders will hiss loudly and strike energetically when they feel threatened, often lifting much of their body off the ground during these defensive displays. Interestingly, they tend to become calmer in captivity. There are no recognized subspecies of this viper, and their type locality is in coastal Namaqualand, South Africa.