A venomous puff adder snake found in southern Africa, known for its thick body and deadly bite.
From Zulu or Xhosa languages of southern Africa, where 'biti' or similar terms refer to venomous snakes. The word entered English through colonial and naturalist writings about African fauna.
The biti (Bitis arietans) is one of Africa's deadliest snakes but also one of the most docile—most bites happen when people accidentally step on them, showing that even lethal predators prefer to avoid confrontation.
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