Zoology Notes 11: a nose for danger? You won't sniff out a puff adder
by Henry Nicholls from on (#10HBC)
Puff adders are masterful ambush predators. Coiled up in a pile of leaves, they are almost invisible. New research suggests they hide their smell too
Puff adders lie in wait for their prey. Their patient approach to sustenance should make them vulnerable to becoming dinner themselves. Except they have appear to have evolved a suite of adaptations that renders them virtually undetectable.
Most obviously, the puff adder's beautiful pattern make them incredibly hard to see. When confronted by danger, they tend to freeze too, making them still harder to detect.
