Péringuey's Adder is usually nocturnal (active at night). Most of the daylight hours are spent buried in the sand with only the eyes and upper part of the head above the surface. The purpose of this behaviour is to protect itself from the extreme temperature and to await a possible meal in the form of a wandering-by desert lizard. The eyes are situated on top of the head.

It is endemic to the sand seas of the Namib Desert, except possibly Henties Bay.

They are venomous, however bites rarely result in life or limb threatening symptoms.