Gaboon vipers (
Bitis gabonica) are the ultimate ambush predator. These thick-bodied snakes lie in wait for prey and strike out with explosive force. When threatened the Gaboon viper puffs its body up to look bigger and forcefully blows air through its windpipe to make a loud hiss. Although they look clumsy and fat, they're capable of striking with incredible speed and are considered by some to be the fastest strikers in the snake world. Known as butterfly vipers for the gorgeous chevron pattern on their back, the gaboon viper is endangered and has become increasingly rare due to habitat destruction.
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| One of the LAIR's gorgeous West African Gaboon vipers (B. gabonica rhinoceros) |
Gaboon vipers are famous for having the largest fangs in the snake world. Reaching up to 2 inches, these fangs act like hyper dermic needles, allowing the snake to quickly dispatch prey by injecting large quantities of venom deep into the body cavity. This not only immobilizes prey rapidly, but also decreases the change of damage to the snake itself. Rats and mice have large incisors and could easily injure the snake. Check out the fangs from a medium sized gaboon below:
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| Check out the size of Gaboon viper (B. gabonica) fangs |
