Thick short snake, the colours can be red-brown, yellow to grey. On its back a zigzag pattern that can be plain or marked. Rust brown eyes with vertical pupils are distinctive. It is cold-blooded, likes to sunbathe but not too much. Often seen in dry areas like heath. It lives alone but winters with other adders and sometimes with toads and lizards. In cold areas it hibernates ⇔ l. 50-70 cm syn. European adder, Northern viper, Common adder Despite its poison, it is often a victim of the Hedgehog. The poison is painful for humans but seldom fatal. LA: ≈ The NATRIX MAURA (Viperine water snake) looks like a viper and acts like one but has round pupils and is not poisonous.