Herptiles

Vipera berus

Adder

Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Basic info

Common names
  • Adder
  • common adder
Species nameVipera berus
Scientific nameVipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Squamata
Viperidae
Vipera berus

Further Reading

Temperatures & Season

Day time temperatures

Background summer18 - 24 °F
Background winter2 - 6 °F
Basking spot30 - 35 °F

Night time temperatures

Background summer10 - 16 °F
Background winter2 - 6 °F

Season

Winter treatmentbrumation
Photoperiod summer14 hours
Photoperiod winter10 hours

Microhabitats

Microhabitats are specific small habitats that an organism inhabits within its broader environment. These can vary greatly depending on the species and can give us insights into the preferred living conditions of each reptile. Understanding these microhabitats can be key to providing the correct care for these animals in captivity.

  • Leaf litter
    Leaf litter
  • Forest floor
    Forest floor
  • Rocks, crevices or burrows
    Rocks, crevices or burrows
  • Grassland or savanna
    Grassland or savanna

Ferguson Zones

Ferguson Zones are a way to classify the amount of UV light that reptiles are exposed to in their natural habitats. These zones help us understand and replicate their natural light conditions in captivity, promoting the health and wellbeing of the reptiles. Below, we detail the specific Ferguson Zones of the Chinese Water Dragon, along with recommendations for replicating these conditions

The Ferguson Zone in which the Adder has been placed has been chosen based upon an assessment of its typical basking behaviour and likely microhabitat in the wild.

3
Open or partial sun basker
UVI range avarage: 1-2.6, UVI max recorded: 2.9-7.4

Recommended lighting methods in captivity

Sunbeam method

This method uses the 'Max UVI Recorded' value as a guide for the upper limit of the UVB gradient in captivity. This maximum should be the highest level which a Adder can obtain at its closest approach to its UVB lamp. The highlighted area in the table below represents this range for the Adder.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

More in-depth information about Ferguson zones can be found here: https://jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150

Community collected distribution (83127 occurrences)

Biomes

These are the biomes the Adder was found in. Click here to learn more about terrestrial ecoregions and biomes.

  • Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
    Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests

    Click here for more information

  • Te
    Temperate Coniferous Forests

    Click here for more information

  • Bo
    Boreal Forests/ Taiga

    Click here for more information

  • Temperate Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands
    Temperate Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands

    Click here for more information

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References

  1. Baines, F.M., Chattell, J., Dale, J., Garrick, D., Gill, I., Goetz, M., Skelton, T. and Swatman, M. 2016. How much UVB does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 4, 1 (Jan. 2016), 42–63. DOI:https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v4i1.150.
  2. Vipera berus (Linnaeus, 1758) in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org
  3. Linnaeus, C. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.
  4. iNaturalist. Available from https://www.inaturalist.org
This website is created by Jefrim Keijzer | All species