Scientific name:

Bitis gabonica

Vernacular name:

Gabon Viper, Gaboon Adder

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Bitis gabonica Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854

Gabon Viper

Description
An extremely fat, short-tailed snake, with a beautiful geometric pattern of bourglass and triangle markings in various shades of dark and light brown, gold, levender, and buff. Massive triangular head clear buff, with 2 dark stripes below eye, and brown, mid-dorsal line. 2 small horns on tip of snout. 3-4' (90-120 cm), max to 6' (1.8 m).

Habitat
Dead leaves on floor of rain forests, montane forests, and coastal dune forests.

Breeding
Breeds every 2-3 years; 16-60 young are born live about 1 year after mating.

Range
Guinea east to central Kenya, and south to central Angola and Malawi; also coastal Tanzania south to highlands of eastern Zimbabwe and coastal Natal.

With its superb camouflage and habit of remaining motionless, awaiting the approach of rodents and ground-feeding forest birds, the Gabon Viper is rarely. It is good-natured and sluggish, and prefers not to bite humans. Its curved fangs are the longest in the world, up to 1.5'' (4 cm).

Bitis gabonica (Gabon Viper)

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