[Article published on 10th September 2025]
The deadliest snake in Africa used in agriculture
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” You are probably familiar with this well-known expression, used to indicate that two people, who do not usually get along, can ally themselves against a common enemy. Many examples perfectly illustrate this concept, including that of the puff adder (Bitis arietans).
Living in the savannas and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa, this species of snake, which averages 1 meter in length, is the deadliest on the continent. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people who die as a result of puff adder bites ranges from 81,410 to 137,880.
But according to a study conducted by the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and published on 13th May 2025 in the scientific reports journal, this snake plays a surprisingly essential role in local agriculture, which sustains 60 to 70% of the active population, as stated in a World Bank report.
A top-notch rodent hunter
Indeed, puff adders, known for their excellent camouflage, are exceptional predators of rodents, which threaten agricultural production in Africa. Rats, the most damaging of all, eat seeds, shoots, and roots of plants. They can also contaminate crop stocks and animals that play a significant role in agriculture.
Thanks to a new measure called “extended factorial ingestion,” which evaluates to what extent a predator can increase its food consumption beyond its usual needs, as well as the impact a large population of snakes can have on their prey, the research team observed that the puff adder was able to significantly increase its consumption.
Individuals of this species can consume up to 12 times more rodents than usual. A trait that researchers plan to leverage for the preservation of the African agricultural sector, especially during periods of rodent population expansion.
Why puff adders are more effective than other mammalian predators?
Aside from puff adders, other mammals are known to eat rodents. Examples include foxes, mongooses, as well as wild ferrets and cats endemic to Africa. However, it is these snakes that are most advantageous in the eyes of researchers.
“Although a puff adder consumes much less than a fox or mongoose, its large population has a considerable collective impact on the number of rodents,” said Professor Graham Alexander, the lead author of the study.
The research team also explains in their study that a single puff adder can devour up to ten rodents in a single hunting session. Moreover, these snakes can adapt their hunting behavior by focusing more on rodents as their populations start to increase.
Source: SciTechDaily
