european adder meaning

[Medicine]
A family of snakes comprising three subfamilies: Azemiopinae (the mountain viper,the sole member of this subfamily),Viperinae (true vipers),and Crotalinae (pit vipers). They are widespread throughout the world,being found in the United States,Central and South America,Europe,Asia and Africa. Their venoms act on the blood (hemotoxic) as compared to the venom of elapids which act on the nervous system (neurotoxic). (Goin,Goin,and Zug,Introduction to Herpetology,3d ed,pp333-36)

Examples

1. Reptiles are represented by lizards, the common european adder and grass snakes as well as endangered European pond terrapin.
2. The early Celtic era European Adder stone is also called a snake stone, and is usually made from coloured glass, often with holes.
3. Another example is the European adder ( " Vipera berus " ) which evolved towards the Baskian viper and now occupies the Cantabrian region and the Pyrenean desman ( " Galemys pyrena�cus " ), found in fossil form at the site.