Many-horned adder

Common names include many-horned adder, hornsman, The type locality given is "Cap de Bonne-espérance" (Cape of Good Hope, South Africa). Actually, according to Patterson's itinerary, the type was observed in coastal Namaqualand, on 1 September 1779. ==Description==

Small and stout, it grows to a typical total length (body and tail) of 30–50 cm (about 12–20 inches). The maximum recorded total length is for a captive specimen. Dorsally, it has a grey to reddish-brown ground colour, overlaid with four longitudinal series of large, dark-brown blotches, which are squarish or parallelogram-like in shape, and edged with white. Ventrally, it is whitish or tan, either uniform or speckled with dark brown. On the dorsal surface of the head, dark, symmetrical markings may form an arrowhead. ==Distribution and habitat==

The many-horned adder ranges from the coastal region of southwest Namibia through west and southwest Cape Province in South Africa, with a few isolated populations in eastern Cape Province. This species prefers rocky desert areas in dwarf succulent veld and mountain slopes in heathland vegetation. ==Behavior==

With a nervous disposition, when disturbed, it will hiss loudly and strike so energetically that most of its body is lifted off the ground in the process. However, it usually settles down in captivity. ==References==