The UK Adder Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

The average size adder is between 50 and 65cm. The maximum size in Great Britain is 80-87 cm. The adder is also common in Western Europe, including Sweden, where they can grow to over 90cm.

Answer: Gives birth to live young

Mating takes place between April-May. The young adders are born live, three or four months later. The baby adders only stay with the mother for a few days before going their separate ways.

Answer: All of these

Adders prefer undisturbed countryside, but can be found in various habitats. When the weather is very warm you can see adders near lakes and ponds.

Answer: Zigzag markings along the back

On the head of the adder you will see the mark of an "X", "V" or even an H. The eyes are vertical. The colour of the male adder varies, but can be a greyish cream in colour with dark markings. The female is brownish or reddish with brown markings. It's not uncommon to see black adders, especially on mountains.

Answer: Get medical help as soon as possible

The bite from an adder is not normally life threatening, however small children could be at more risk. If you were bitten on the leg it would most probably swell up and be very painful. A trip to the local accident and emergency would be recommended.

Answer: True

Most people get bitten by the adder if they tread on the snake or try to pick them up. In the main adders are not aggressive, so if you leave them alone you shouldn't have a problem with them.

Answer: Small rodents

The adder's diet mainly consists of voles, mice and most small rodents, although it will also eat frogs and lizards and even the young of ground nesting birds. Once the adder has bitten its victim, it waits until the victim has died. It then swallows its prey starting with the head.

Answer: March

The adder goes into hibernation in September until March. The male is usually the first to come out of hibernation and spends the first few weeks just basking. The male sheds its skin in April and again in the summer. The females shed their skin a few weeks after the males.

Answer: Viper

Scientific classification facts.
Kingdom: Animalia.
Phylum: Chordata.
Class: Reptilia.
Order: Squamata.
Suborder: Serpentes.
Family: Viperidae.
Subfamily: Viperinae.
Genus: Vipera.
Species: V. berus.

Answer: False

According to folk law St. Patrick chased snakes out of Ireland. The real reason is that snakes can't swim and don't like the cold. The adder is a cold-blooded creature, that is why it spends the early part of the day basking in the sun to get its temperature up.

Thanks for playing the quiz. I hope you enjoyed the challenge.