SANParks.org Forums

I came across these two puffadders having a wrestling match near Nwanetsi last April. They didn't appear too agressive, so I don't know if it was territorial or not.

Thanks, forumites. Can anyone tell the sexes of the snakes? Is it two males in territorial combat or a courting couple?

Found some info on the net
Pofadders have fierce courtshipdances (males) and the best dancer goes of with the female. (Dutch site)

And they mate from april - may

mafortini,

really nice photos

female snakes generally have shorter tails than males.

Where does the body end and the tail start?

basically from the anal shield to the tip is the tail

oooh...
Do the different sexes inject different amounts of venom when biting?

Only just saw this and I think it is courting. Contrary to mfb's information, I was told by a guide at Biyamiti that the male puff adder has a "short, fat tail". In any case, your first pic clearly shows one short, fat tail, and one long, slender tail, so I'd think it is a courting couple. And great pix!!

Don't thinks so...

I dont think there is any difference in the volume of venom injected between the sexes, but I do know that they do not always inject venom and if they do, it depends on a number of factors i.e. snakes are cold blooded creatures and conserve energy in cold/damp conditions, so they may chose not to bite or if they do, not inject a lot. If they have been in the sun and are 'fully charged', then watch out......

One thing is for certain though with venomous snakes, it doesn't take much to kill you

I used to 'catch' snakes when I was a kid growing up in East London and spend a lot of my time in the bush. Puffies were always sluggish and not very difficult to catch, although their short fat bodies did make them very intimidating and I would never pick one up with my hands. Their strikes were rapid and if you got in their strike zone, you would not stand a chance. Luckily, I never got in that zone.

Now a boomslang, there is a difficult snake to catch, but the one that I would never go near was a black mamba. I did come across a green mamba once, but it a bit too quick for me.

Oh the days when I had no fear....great being a teenager!!

Slithering across a dry riverbed...

Chances that you'll die from a Puff adder bite are very slim.. (unless untreated) You normally end up scared or without a couple of fingers or in bad cases minus an arm or leg... after a very long time of treatment of the necrosis, gangerine etc... and then skin grafts of course. Unless you take a hit on the chest or face of course.... (a bit more serious)

Agree with Pilane, chances of being killed by a puffadder is very very slim. Chances of losing a limb is very very good though. But non the less, you do not wanna get hit by a puffy. No matter what.

He was bitten on the leg ( ankle )

By the way one of my friends found a baby puffadder in his house yesterday ( he thinks its a puffadder - markings are like puffadder but head is not diamond shaped and its a bit long for a puffadder)

Does anyone know what to feed it?

Zeedoc,
Some good advice......
You are looking for a disaster. Firstly it is illegal to catch or keep indigineous snakes without a permit.
Then trying to feed a puffy without knowing what you do? WARNING!!!! Baby or not!!!
Trust me it will hit you twice in a blink of an eye.
Then you stand the chance that the rodent will bite the snake which can cause serious infection and even kill the snake ..


A bit long for a puffy? what do you mean by that?

PM me if you need advice. (Please do not take it to a petshop either)