The common (European) adder is extremely wide-spread across the globe.
The common adder owes its German name “Kreuzotter” (“cross adder”) to the broad zigzagged band on its back, or so-called “cross” in German. The Latin genus vipera, an abbreviation of vivipara, indicates the mode of reproduction of the live-bearing common adder.
The common adder is a venomous snake, which, however, tries to flee when in danger.