Serpent it’s a crime to kill

■ ‘Adder’ is derived from an Old English term meaning serpent.

■ Around 100 Britons are bitten each year but there have been just 14 deaths in the last century.

■ Males have grey scales with a dark zigzag and females are usually light brown.

■ Fangs fold up against the roof of the mouth until they are needed.

■ Victims suffer pain, nausea, diarrhoea and swelling of the lips.

■ It is illegal to kill adders.