Details
Bitis gabonica
The Gaboon viper is a heavy forest viper camouflaged like leaf litter. It has exceptionally long fangs and ambushes prey from the ground.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits Afrotropical forest. Moist leaf litter, fallen timber, and shaded forest floor cover are preferred over open ground.
Total length 80-175 cm; weight 4-11 kg. A thick heavy body carries geometric brown patterning that blends with leaves. The head is broad and triangular, with very long venom fangs.
Nocturnal and solitary, it often remains almost motionless. When prey approaches, it strikes suddenly from close range.
A carnivore, it takes small to medium mammals and birds. Venom subdues prey, which is then swallowed whole.
It gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Newborns are venomous and capable of catching small prey.
It is listed as Vulnerable. Forest loss and killing by people are important local threats.
