Gaboon Viper
TYPE: Reptile
STATUS:
Least Concern
QUICK STATS
Body size
4 feet long
20 pounds
native habitat
Rainforests, wet and humid areas of Central, East and West Africa
life expectancy
20 years on average
diet
Rodents, mongoose, hares, monkeys
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous; 50–60 young per litter
predators
Jaguars, eagles, hawks and snakes
natural defenses
Coloration providing camouflage, potentially venomous bites
About the Species
THE LEAVES HAVE EYES
The Gaboon viper’s color is a combination of brown and purple arranged in diamonds and stripes along its back, which provides camouflage. This pattern gives excellent coverage to blend into the leaves, making them very difficult to see on the ground.
This snake is an ambush predator. It will hide among the leaves and wait for its prey to pass by.
Gaboon vipers are passive hunters, waiting concealed and camouflaged to strike at whatever small creatures pass within range.
The Gaboon viper can control whether, and how much, venom is injected, so the result of a strike can range from no effect to quick death.
Bitis rhinoceros
The Gaboon viper is one of the world’s largest and heaviest vipers. It also has the longest retractable fangs of any venomous snake: up to 2 inches long.
WORD FROM
THE EXPERTS
