Bitis arietans arietans Natural history


- THOMPSON M,
 Genus bitis
 Bitis is the largest, most widespread and diverse genus of African vipers.
They are absent only from the central Sahara and high montane grasslands of eastern Africa. The group includes the puff adder (Bitis arietans), which is the most widely distributed viper in Africa. The genus is conveniently divided by size into two groups. The first includes four medium to large species, i.e. the puff adder, Gaboon viper, rhinoceros viper and Ethiopian mountain viper. The species appear to hybridize freely and, with the exception of the poorly known Ethiopian mountain viper, hybrids are known between all the other large species. The other group contains the majority of species (nine) and it is composed of small vipers, mostly adapted to arid or mountain habits in southern Africa. All of the species have a wide head and narow neck, while the tail appears ludicrously short in females and only less so in males. An unusual feature, that is shared by a number of other vipers, is a small pocket behind the nostril - the supranasal sac. This structure appears similar to the pit organ of rattlesnakes and other pit vipers. It may serve a similar function of temperature detection, as recent experiments have shown that blinded puff adders can still detect and strike at warm prey. All give birth to fully-formed babies, the smaller species having three to ten young, while litters considerably in excess of 100 are recorded for the puff adder. It is a paradox that, despite their prevalence and diversity in Africa, these adders are not responsible for many snakebites. Among the large species, only the puff adder is nervous and willing to bite. This may be linked to its habitat, as it is the characteristic adder of the open, African savannahs. Both its familiar warning hiss and belligerence may serve to prevent it being stepped on by the numerous (at least historically) grazing antelope and other game. The forest-dwelling Gaboon viper and rhinoceros viper are both exceptionally docile, and rarely bite, even when abused. The smaller species usually inhabit desert or rocky mountains, and therefore rarely come into contact with people. They also have relatively mild venoms and the bite of none caused death. Bitis arietans Homoeopathic name and abbreviation: Clotho arietans; Cloth.; and Vipera lachesis; Vip-l-f. Common names: Puff adder Description: This large heavy-bodied viper attains lengths of up to 1.8 m. It inhabits many habitats with the exception of deserts and rain forests. Distribution: Africa south of the Sahara, and Arabian Peninsula. Range: Africa and Southern Arabia Venom: It produces large amounts of highly toxic tissue-destroying venom. Authority: Merrem, 1820 Comments: (O Boericke) (T F Allen) Puff adder, bitis arietans A stout snake, which throughout most of its rangs averages 800-900 mm in lengh. However, in Northern Kenya, Uganda and Somalia the species measuring 190 mm! The large, flattened head is much broader than the neck and covered with small, keeled, overlapping scales. The snout is rounded, and the nostrils large and directed mainly upwards. There are 29-41 scale rows at midbody. The ground colour of the black varies from yellow-brown light or orange-brown, with a series of approximately 18-22 black or dark-brown, pale-edged, backwardly-directed, roughly chevron-shaped bars (that may be more U-shaped in some regions). Over the tail they form two to six dark and light cross-bands. The ventrum is yellow or white, with a few scattered black blotches. There is usually a large, well-marked, dark blotch on crown of the head with a smaller one between the eyes; two oblique dark bands or bars on side of the head. Overall it is a generally full-looking snake, except male specimens from highland east Africa and the Cape Province, South Africa, which are usually strikingly marked in yellow and black. Terrestrial and basically nocturnal, it often basks during the day on southern Africa. Although mainly terrestrial, it will climb into sturdy bushes to bask. Due to its fat body, locomotion is usually in a slow 'caterpillar' fashion. When attempting to escape it can move quickly, in a rather stiff-bodied lateral undulation that is reminiscent of sidewinding. Normally sluggish, it relies on its cryptic coloration to avoid detection. When disturbed, however, it will inlate its body with air, exhaling in loud hisses or puffs, from which it gets its common name. At this time it usually adopts a tightly coiled posture, with the forebody held in a taut 'S' shape. From this position it remains ready to strike, at the same time edging backwards into cover. It may strike suddenly and swiftly, but does not hold on. Perhaps the most characteristic snake of the Afro-tropical region. It is widespread throughout subsaharan Africa, although absent from the coastal rainforest regions of West and Central Africa, and the Mediterranean coastal regions of North Africa. In the extreme northwest it occurs in southern Morocco. It has a limited penetration into the Arabian peninsula, with specimens recorded from as farr north as Taif and the mountainous regions of the south, including the Yeman. The race B.a. somalica is resticted to northern Kenya, eastern Ethiopia and Somalia, including Coiama Island. Found in a wide variety of habitats, with a preference for savannah or open grassland, often with scattered scrub vegetation. It is absent only from high montane grasslands, extreme desert and climax rainforest. Found from sea-level to 3500m. Prey is usually ambushed from cover as the snake shelters at the base of a bush, often by a game trail. Unless the prey item is small and easily overcome, it does not usually hold on after striking, but rather releases the dying prey and tracks it down after a short pause. The usual diet consists of small rodents, although it is a catholic feeder and birds, lizards, amphibians and even other snakes are taken. One puff adder even ate a small leopard tortoise! From 20-40 young are usually born, although very large East African females have given birth to 156 young! This is the largest litter recorded for any species of snake in the world. The young measure 150-200mm at birth. The venom is relatively toxic, approximately 100 mg being a fatal dose in humans. From 100-350 mg may be injected in a single bite. In many regions puff adders are responsible for many serious snakbites. This is due to a number of factors, including its large size, toxic venom which is injected in large amounts, the lengh of its fangs, and its habit of basking by footpaths. In addition, it is widely distributed and in some regions relatively common. FFollowing envenomation, local pain and swelling develop within minutes. Oedema is the most obvious feature, and it may become extensive, spreading throughout the bitten limb and on to the body. There is usually extensive subcutaneous bruising and blood blisters may fform repidly. Painful lymph glands are common. Well-treated cases rarely develop necrosis of the skin, fascia, tendons or muscle, but this may develop from secondary infections in neglected cases, or those abused with tourniquets, deep incisions or excessive local anti-venom injection. Death from puff adder bites is exceptional and probably occurs in no more than 5-10 per cent of cases. It usuallyoccurs two to ffour days after envenomation, usually from complications arising from blood volume deficit and the development of a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Most instances of serious morbidity are associated with neglect or bad clinical management. Neurotoxic action of the venom is minimal and usually occurs as a secondary consequence of poor blood supply to the brain. In exceptional circumstances death has occured within 30 minutes due to intravenous injection of venom and catastrophic collapse. Some puff adder bites may develop only relatively minor symptoms of swelling, subcutaneous bruising and blood blisters in the vicinity of the bite. Such cases should be treated conservatively by elevation, analgesics and antibiotic cover. If swelling develops rapidly and in entensive. vigorous antivenom therapy is essential and blood fluid volumes must be maintained Materia medica Allen's Index Ankles: malleolus, about: internal: about: soreness, right. Arm: outer surface: shooting, left. Lips: lower: inner side: swelling. Mamma: nipple, above: region of nipple: shooting, in open air, left. Ribs: beneath: heavy pain, dull, at 5 a.m. , on waking, moving to pit of stomach, left. Taste: bitter. Throat: internal: clothes, desire to loosen. Thumb: tip: soreness. Toes: tingling. Tongue: small: feeling. Tongue: tip: smaller, feels. Allen's enclyopedia Mouth The tongue, especially at the end, felt smaller, for ten minutes (after three-quarters of an hour). Bitter taste in mouth, lasting more than fifteen minutes (after fifty-five minutes). Every day since the dose, intense bitter taste in the mouth (fourth day). The lower lip, on the inside, felt swollen, and there was a sore feeling as if there was a longitudinal ridge on it; it came on about 10 A.M. , lasting the whole day (fourth day). Throat Feeling in throat of choking; desire to clear the throat; the tongue, especially at the end, felt smaller; desire to loosen clothes round throat; all this lasted ten minutes; he thought he had taken Lachesis (after three-quarters of an hour). Chest Woke at 5 A.M. , with a dull heavy pain under left ribs (never cardiac end of stomach), which seemed to rest at one spot for a few minutes, then slowly moved round to the right in an upward direction to stomach-pit; it remained about an hour, and then went away (second day). Twice during day, in the open air, shooting in region of left nipple (fifth day). Upper Limbs In outer side of left arm, shooting downwards, from just below shoulder to elbow (after one hour and twenty minutes). Sore painful feeling at end of right thumb (palmar surface), for one minute (after fifty minutes). Lower Limbs 2 P.M. , when walking out, a dull heavy pain struck him suddenly in the right hip, in one spot; it seemed to be in the hip-bone; it only remained a few minutes, and then passed away without his noticing it (third day). Sore pain behind right internal malleolus (after fifty-seven minutes). During the day, tingling in toes of right foot (second day). Boericke Should have a great sphere of usefulness in many conditions where excessive swelling in leading feature. Themes Karl Robinson did a proving in Texas in 1996-7. One prover was able to lie in the extreme heat whereas previously they had not been able to. Lots of people are bitten by puff adders from treading on them.

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