Germany has recently announced the common European adder, also known as the common European viper (Vipera berus), as its “Reptile of the Year” for 2024. This snake is considered a “snake of superlatives” due to its widespread distribution across Europe, from England to Russia’s Sakhalin Island in the Far East, according to the German Association for Herpetology and Terrarium Science. It is also the only snake found beyond the Arctic Circle.

While the common European adder is listed as a species of least concern in most areas where it can be found, the German Association for Herpetology and Terrarium Science states that it is at risk in Germany due to the effects of climate change. In response, the association has recommended conservation measures to ensure the survival of this species, including connecting and optimizing habitats where it is known to exist and rewilding captive specimens, as reported by DNYUZ.com.

About the Common European Adder (Vipera berus)

Also known as the common European viper, this species is widespread throughout Western Europe and East Asia, including North Korea, northern Mongolia, and northern China. Its venom is not considered particularly dangerous and the snake is not aggressive, although those who are bitten should seek professional medical assistance. Female snakes can grow to be 24 to 36 inches in length, depending on their location, with some specimens reaching 41 inches. Males are smaller, growing to about 24 inches in length. They are protected in England and it is illegal to kill, injure, harm, or sell them. They feed on small mammals such as mice and shrews, as well as lizards, small amphibians, and birds. There are three known subspecies: the common adder (V.b. berus), the Balkan cross adder (V.b. bosniensis), and the Sakhalin Island adder (V.b. sachalinensis).