Pest Guides

Night Adder

Causus rhombeatus

Geographical Locale

Night Adder
  • Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Appearance

  • Head has a dark brown or black V-shaped mark, the top of which points forward and finishes between the eyes.
  • Colouring varies from light browny-pink to light grey.
  • Diamond shaped darker markings are found on the back and tail – these are sometimes bordered with white.
  • Adults average about .5metres in length and seldom exceed 1 metre.
  • Body is cylindrical and reasonably slender.
  • Venom glands are extremely long – up to 10cms – and found on either side of the spine connecting up to the fangs.
  • Poor eye sight and a keen sense of smell.
  • Often confused with Egg Eating Snakes (Dasypeltis).

Venom

  • Cytotoxic – cell damaging.
  • Venom has relatively low toxicity.

The Bite

  • Extremely painful with swelling at the bite wound.

Lifecycle

  • Oviparous; females laying up to 24 eggs more than once a year.
  • Eggs are incubated for about four months.
  • Hatchlings average 12.5cms in length.

Habits

  • Prefers damp or moist habitats & usually makes its home under rocks or logs and in old termite mounds; often close to rivers or lakes.
  • An extremely slow moving, non-aggressive snake.
  • Only likely to attack if cornered or provoked.
  • Basks during the day and hunts at night.
  • Diet consists almost exclusively of frogs and toads.
  • Hatchlings feed on tadpoles.