A puff adder is a large, heavy-bodied African viper found in most areas in Africa except some of the coastal regions. The puff adder is of the species bitis arietans, getting its common name as it puffs itself out to look bigger when it's startled. The puff adder may also play dead, but when it's touched in any way it usually strikes very quickly.

Most deaths due to snakebite in Africa are caused by the puff adder. This venomous snake is not aggressive unless provoked, but the problem is that it tends to inhabit footpaths and areas where humans are likely to step on them by accident. The puff adder's strike can be so fast that the victim has no time to jump back out of the way. It especially likes to travel on foot paths at night.

The puff adder doesn't need to coil in order to strike and usually doesn't even look like it will strike, when suddenly it does in a fast and fierce manner. When striking, the puff adder's head may be directed at the ground and its body may start to puff up. It's usually a very slow-moving snake, except when striking.

The puff adder has a solenoglyphous venom delivery system, which means that the venom is delivered into the victim through hollow fangs. One bite of the puff adder can be fatal. Puff adders are known to give a painful bite that causes extreme swelling. Cramping and breathing difficulties are likely and death may occur in a few days after the bite, up to about four days.

Most puff adder females have about 20 to 40 live young per litter, but some puff adders have set records with litters up to 156 live young. The newly-hatched young are born capable of killing. The V-shaped markings make the puff adder recognizable. The background colors range from shades of yellow, brown and orange. The puff adder adapts well to both desert climates and milder, rainy climates.