Fabio Pupin / Peringuey's desert adder, (Bitis peringueyi), sidewinding on dune, Namib desert, Namibia, February . Non-ex.

Pete Oxford / Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) near wetland, Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa

Christophe Courteau / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) buried in sand, flicking tongue, hunting, Namib Desert, Namibia.

Tony Phelps / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) moving into ambush position under a bush, DeHoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa, January.

Daniel Heuclin / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis), from Central Africa, captive, July.

Pete Oxford / Snake charmer's Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) and African puff-adder (Bitis arietans arietans) Djemaa el-Fna (the square), Marrakech, Morocco, June 2009

Ann & Steve Toon / Puff adder (Bitis arietans), Zimanga game reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Fabio Pupin / Namaqua dwarf adder, (Bitis schneideri), Little Namaqualand, South Africa, February . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Peringuey's desert adder, (Bitis peringueyi), hiding under sand, Namib desert, Namibia, February . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Peringuey's desert adder, (Bitis peringueyi), sidewinding on dune, Namib desert, Namibia, February . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Peringuey's desert adder, (Bitis peringueyi), sidewinding on dune, Namib desert, Namibia, February . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Namaqua dwarf adder, (Bitis schneideri), Little Namaqualand, South Africa, February . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Horned adder, (Bitis caudalis), Namib desert, Namibia, February . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Horned adder, (Bitis caudalis), Namib desert, Namibia, February . Non-ex.

Fabio Pupin / Peringuey's desert adder, (Bitis peringueyi), hiding under sand, Namib desert, Namibia, February . Non-ex.

Daniel Heuclin / Butterfly / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis). Captive. Occurs in West and Central Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Butterfly / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis) in leaf litter. Captive. Occurs in West and Central Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Butterfly / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis). Captive. Occurs in West and Central Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Butterfly / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis). Captive. Occurs in West and Central Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Butterfly / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis). Captive. Occurs in West and Central Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Butterfly / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis). Captive. Occurs in West and Central Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Natural hybrid between West African Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica rhinoceros) and Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis) Togo. Captive.

Daniel Heuclin / Natural hybrid between West African Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica rhinoceros) and Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis) Togo. Captive.

Emanuele Biggi / Many horned adder (Bitis cornuta), adult individual. Swakopmund, Dorob National Park, Namibia. Captive.

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) hiding in the sand. Swakopmund, Dorob National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) hiding in the sand. Swakopmund, Dorob National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) adult individual portrait. Swakopmund, Dorob National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) adult individual portrait. Swakopmund, Dorob National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) portrait of a male, Brandberg, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) portrait of a male individual, Namibia

Lucas Bustamante / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) eyes and horns, Swakopmund, Erongo, Namibia.

Lucas Bustamante / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) curled up, Swakopmund, Erongo, Namibia.

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) close up of eye, Brandberg area, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) waiting for passing prey in the Namib Desert, Brandberg, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) sidewinding in Namib desert, Namibia.

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) basking morning winter sun of the Namib desert, Namibia.

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) sidewinding in Namib desert, Namibia.

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) emerging from desert sand, Namib Desert, Namibia.

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) camouflaged in sand, Namib desert, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) camouflaged in sand, Namib desert, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's desert adder (Bitis peringueyi) on desert sand, Namibia

Lucas Bustamante / Peringuey's Adder (Bitis peringueyi) in sand, Swakopmund, Erongo, Namibia.

Lucas Bustamante / Horned Adder (Bitis caudalis) eye peering from sand, Swakopmund, Erongo, Namibia.

Lucas Bustamante / Many horned adder (Bitis cornuta) close up detail of eye, Swakopmund, Erongo, Namibia.

Lucas Bustamante / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) eye peering from sand, Swakopmund, Erongo, Namibia.

Lucas Bustamante / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) hidden in the sand. Swakopmund, Namibia.

Lucas Bustamante / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) Swakopmund, Erongo, Namibia .

Pete Oxford / Puff Adder (Bitis arietans), Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa

Pete Oxford / Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) camouflaged in leaves, Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa

Christophe Courteau / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) buried in sand, hunting, Namib Desert, Namibia.

Tony Phelps / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) entering a hole in a wall, seen from inside, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa, November.

Tony Phelps / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) entering a hole in a wall, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa, September.

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's desert adder (Bitis peringueyi) hidden in sand, Namibia.

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's desert adder (Bitis peringueyi) camouflaged in desert sand, Namibia

Jen Guyton / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in iron-rich sand in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Jen Guyton / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) camouflaged in leaf litter, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Jen Guyton / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) camouflaged in leaf litter, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Jen Guyton / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) camouflaged in leaf litter, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in its environment, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia June

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in its environment, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia June

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in its environment, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in its environment, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) half disguised in sandy habitat, Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in its environment, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in its environment, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) well camouflaged against sand habitat, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) half disguised in sandy habitat, Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) in sandy habitat, Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's / sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) hidden in the sand, Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Peringuey's / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) just its eyes showing above sand, perfectly disguised, Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in its environment, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Emanuele Biggi / Horned adder (Bitis caudalis) camouflaged in its environment, Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia

Oriol Alamany / Peringuey's / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) in the sand dune desert, Swakopmund, Namibia

Oriol Alamany / Peringuey's / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) in the sand dune desert, Swakopmund, Namibia

Edwin Giesbers / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) captive, occurs in Africa.

Christophe Courteau / Peringuey's / sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) moving on dunes, Namib Desert, Namibia. This little endemic snake is one of the smallest adders in the world.

Christophe Courteau / Peringuey's / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) hiding in shallow sand, Namib Desert, Namibia. This little endemic snake is one of the smallest adders in the world.

Christophe Courteau / Peringuey's / Sidewinding adder (Bitis peringueyi) hiding in shallow sand, Namib Desert, Namibia. This little endemic snake is one of the smallest adders in the world.

Wim van den Heever / Sidewinder / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) moving in characteristic sideway motion along sand dune, Namib Desert, Namibia.

Wim van den Heever / Sidewinder / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) moving in characteristic sideway motion along sand dune, Namib Desert, Namibia.

Wim van den Heever / Sidewinder / Peringuey's adder (Bitis peringueyi) lying in wait, buried in sand ready to ambush prey, Namib Desert, Namibia

Daniel Heuclin / Ethiopian mountains viper (Bitis parviocula) captive.

Daniel Heuclin / Ethiopian mountains viper (Bitis parviocula) captive.

Daniel Heuclin / Ethiopian mountains viper (Bitis parviocula) captive.

Daniel Heuclin / Ethiopian mountains viper (Bitis parviocula) captive.

Ann & Steve Toon / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) inside building, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Cyril Ruoso / Baka man packing venomous Gabon viper (Bitis gabonica) head, killed during hunt, in leaf, South East Cameroon, July 2008.

Cyril Ruoso / Gabon viper (Bitis gabonica) close up of skin, killed during hunt by Baka people, South East Cameroon, July 2008.

Wim van den Heever / Peringuey's adder, (Bitis peringueyi) in sand, Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Namibia.

MYN / Javier Aznar / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) Oman. Meetyourneighbours.net project

Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis) scales. See original image number 01482824.

Daniel Heuclin / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis rhinoceros) hatchling, captive, occurs in West Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis rhinoceros) captive, occurs in West Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis rhinoceros) hatchlings on white background. Captive, occurs in West Africa.

Michael D. Kern / Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis), captive, from Africa.

Daniel Heuclin / Puff adder (Bitis arietans) moving along ground, near Tiznit, Morroco.