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''Vipera berus'', the common European adder〔Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. (2003). ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.〕 or common European viper,〔Stidworthy J. (1974). ''Snakes of the World''. New York: Grosset & Dunlap Inc. 160 pp. ISBN 0-448-11856-4.〕 is a venomous snake that is extremely widespread and can be found throughout most of Western Europe and as far as East Asia.〔 Known by a host of common names including common adder and common viper, adders have been the subject of much folklore in Britain and other European countries. They are not regarded as especially dangerous;〔 the snake is not aggressive and usually bites only when alarmed or disturbed. Bites can be very painful, but are seldom fatal. The specific name, ''berus'', is New Latin and was at one time used to refer to a snake, possibly the grass snake, ''Natrix natrix''.〔Gotch AF. (1986). ''Reptiles: Their Latin Names Explained''. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0-7137-1704-1.〕 The common adder is found in different terrains, habitat complexity being essential for different aspects of its behaviour. It feeds on small mammals, birds, lizards, and amphibians, and in some cases on spiders, worms, and insects. The common adder, like most other vipers, is ovoviviparous. Females breed once every two or three years, with litters usually being born in late summer to early autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Litters range in size from three to 20 with young staying with their mothers for a few days. Adults grow to a total length (including tail) of and a mass of . Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies, ''Vipera berus berus'' described here. The snake is not considered to be threatened, though it is protected in some countries. ==Etymologies== The name "adder" is derived from ''nædre'' an Old English word that had the generic meaning of serpent in the older forms of many Germanic languages. It was commonly used in the Old English version of the Christian Scriptures for the devil and the serpent in the Book of Genesis.〔 In the 14th century, "a nadder" in Middle English was rebracketed to "an adder" (just as "a napron" became "an apron" and "a ''nompere''" changed into "an umpire"). In keeping with its wide distribution and familiarity through the ages, ''Vipera berus'' has a large number of common names in English, which include: :''Common European adder'',〔 ''common European viper'',〔 ''European viper'',〔U.S. Navy. (1991). ''Poisonous Snakes of the World''. United States Government. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 232 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.〕 ''northern viper'', ''adder'', ''common adder'', ''crossed viper'', ''European adder'',〔Mehrtens JM. (1987). ''Living Snakes of the World in Color''. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.〕 ''common viper'', ''European common viper'', ''cross adder'',〔Steward JW. (1971). ''The Snakes of Europe''. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307. ISBN 0-8386-1023-4.〕 or ''common cross adder''.〔Brown JH. (1973). ''Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes''. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.〕 '' In Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, the snake is known as ''huggorm'' or ''hoggorm'', roughly translated as "striking serpent" or "cutting serpent". In Finland, it is known as ''kyykäärme'' or simply ''kyy'', in Estonia it is known as ''rästik'', while in Lithuania it is known as ''angis''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「vipera berus」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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