Design: HTML5 UP. Vipers have wide jaws that house long fangs and large venom glands. A Surprisingly Docile Snake. Gaboon vipers are passive hunters, waiting concealed to strike at whatever small creatures pass within range. The West African gaboon viper or (Bitis Gabonica) is the largest out of all the old world vipers. Gaboon Vipers are primarily passive hunters, waiting for their prey to … It is the heaviest venomous snake in Africa, weighing 8 kg (18 pounds), and it grows to a length of 2 metres (about 7 feet). Over 100 pages of corn snake care advice, in e-book format. The Gaboon viper is also unique for its generally calm disposition, when compared to other members of the Viperidae family. The Gaboon Viper is located in the tropical rainforests and other moist areas of East and West Central Africa. Mass Large adults can weigh over 25 pounds. Gaboon Vipers will usually find a nesting place in a dark place near or on the ground. Gaboon viper. The Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) is a viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Download yours today, and start learning! This venomous snake from central and western Africa has always fascinated me. Most snakes strike and release, but this viper holds on until its prey dies. Terminology: This snake is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the "Gabon viper" (with one 'o' instead of two). But the proper common name of this snake is the Gaboon viper. They … The Gaboon viper is the heaviest of all venomous snakes. Then it will lunge forward and sink its fangs into the animal, delivering its potent venom. Vipers have wide jaws that house long fangs and large venom glands. Now you see it, now you don't. The Gaboon viper is found across western and central Africa. Sometimes, it's hard to come up with interesting facts about a snake species to fill an entire page. Gaboon vipers are found in Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, northern Angola, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, eastern Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, eastern Zimbabwe, Mozambique, northeast KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa and also in Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa. As a result, this snake can deliver a large quantity of venom with a single bite. These vipers are known to feed on a variety of birds and mammals, like doves, many species of rodents, such as field mice and rats, as well as rabbits and hares.. Fun Facts. All rights reserved. These snakes live in Africa, and even though they are very big and dangerous, they almost never attack people. Mr. RCH Sweeney, the author of Snakes of Nyasaland, once said that Gaboon vipers "can be handled as freely as any non-venomous species," though we certainly do not recommend trying this for yourself. There are two recognized subspecies of this snake. Habitat Rainforest and dense woodland. Habitat. Gaboon vipers have a placid nature and very rarely bite humans. Random Gaboon Viper Facts. Their scales can be tan, brown, pink, and purple, and their patterns are often intricate and precisely symmetrical. There is a country in Africa called Gabon, and these vipers can be found there. This "disappearing act" complements the sit-and-wait hunting strategy used by the Gaboon viper. This snake will lie motionless and wait for its prey to walk right in front of it. Now that you understand the basic details of the Gaboon viper, let’s learn a few more interesting facts about this fascinating snake. Gaboon vipers are found in Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo, northern Angola, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, eastern Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, eastern Zimbabwe, Mozambique, northeast KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa and also in Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. If you walked over this snake in the wild, you wouldn't even know it. Distribution. These snakes are usually non-aggressive and reluctant to bite (unless you're a rodent). When it lies perfectly still among the fallen leaves of a forest floor, it becomes nearly invisible. Click on the image above to enlarge it, and you will see what I mean. Gaboon viper, (Bitis gabonica), extremely venomous but usually docile ground-dwelling snake found in tropical forests of central and western Africa. In the wild their strikingly marked bodies are near impossible to see among the ground and leaf litter. It is the largest member of the genus Bitis, and it has the longest fangs of any snake – up to 2 inches in length (5 cm) – and the second highest venom yield of any snake next to the king cobra. Required fields are marked *. The fangs fold up against the roof of the mouth when they are not needed. As I said earlier, there are many interesting things to say about the Gaboon viper of Africa. © 2019, ReptileKnowledge.com. Thankfully, gaboon vipers do not bite humans very frequently. The deadly venom of the Gaboon viper has granted it a justifiably frightening reputation. Privacy policy, Habitat - Mostly found in savannas and rainforests, Size - Adults reach an average length of 4 - 5 feet (up to 1.5 meters), Offspring - Gives birth to live young (up to 20 babies at a time). But when it comes to the Gaboon viper, there is plenty to write about. Fortunately, these snakes are not considered to be threatened in the wild. But that is not the case. Most bites occur when the snake is stepped on before it has an opportunity to get away. Article was last reviewed on 4th June 2019. Gaboon Vipers are Carnivores. Length Maximum recorded 6 foot 9 inches. The fangs fold up against the roof of the mouth when they are not needed. Gaboon Viper facts. Gaboon Viper Facts and Information. When you combine this kind of venom delivery with the Gaboon viper's excellent camouflage, you would think there would be a lot of human injuries and deaths related to this snake. Unless, of course, you stepped on it. Wide jaws. The venom also aids with the digestive process. Distribution. The fangs grow to more than 1 1/2 inches (4 centimeters), longer than in any snake except, perhaps, the much larger bushmaster.

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