Are gaboon vipers aggressive?

How often do Gaboon vipers bite?

Gaboon vipers are venomous snakes native to Africa. They are the largest African viper species, and as an added bonus, the also have the longest fangs! They use those two-inch fangs to inject enough venom to kill a slew of adult men. Thankfully, gaboon vipers do not bite humans very frequently. Read on to learn about the gaboon viper.

How big do Gaboon viper snakes get?

Description of the Gaboon Viper. These snakes are quite large, and average between 4 and 5 feet long. However, the largest specimen ever recorded was nearly 7 ft. long! Their coloration is perfectly adapted for rainforest living.

Are Gaboon vipers active at night?

Gaboon vipers are mostly active at night, or nocturnal. Most individuals are slow moving, and when they do actively search for food they do so slowly. However, when they feel threatened, they will hiss and flatten their heads. During the breeding season, male gaboon vipers participate in extended battles. They wrestle, sometimes for hours on end.

What is the size of a Gaboon viper?

Gaboon vipers are large snakes, the largest of the vipers, with an average adult length of about 1.2 meters. However, some have been recorded as large as 2.2 m long or greater. They can weigh up 10 kg with a head about 12.7 cm wide and fangs about 5 cm long. Gaboon vipers have triangular heads with prominent rostral horns.

How long do Gaboon vipers hibernate?

These snakes will hibernate from 150 to 180 days. Gaboon vipers or Gabon vipers are extremely dangerous but are mostly docile snakes. This viper is found in tropical areas of western and central Africa. It is one of the heaviest snakes in the continent, which can weigh up to 18 pounds and can grow up to 7 feet long.

Are Gaboon viper bites deadly?

Oddly enough, the venom itself is not particularly toxic. However, these snakes have massive venom glands, and inject an immense amount of venom when they do bite. This is why gaboon viper bites, though rare, can be very deadly. Docile Nature – Perhaps the biggest reason that gaboon viper bites are so rare is…

How big can a Gaboon viper get?

An average gaboon viper would measure 1.2m (4ft) though extraordinarily large individuals can reach 2m (6.5ft) long. Their weight is between 7 and 10kg (15.4 and 22lbs). The gaboon viper is a carnivore. Their diet includes small mammals, birds, frogs and toads. Some large individuals have been recorded eating

What is a Gaboon viper?

The Gaboon viper ( Bitis gabonica) is a viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Like all vipers, it is venomous. It is the largest member of the genus Bitis, and it has the longest fangs of any venomous snake – up to 2 inches (5 cm) in length – and the highest venom yield of any snake.

What is the largest viper in Africa?

Gaboon viper. Bitis gabonica, most commonly known as the Gaboon viper, is a viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Like all vipers, it is venomous. It is the largest member of the genus Bitis, and it has the longest fangs – up to 2 inches in length (5 cm) – and the highest venom yield of any snake.

Do snakes hibernate?

It’s similar to hibernation, except snakes don’t go into a deep sleep. They just stop moving around as much to maintain their body temperature and conserve energy. We’ll share some interesting snake ‘hibernation’ facts.

Can a Gaboon viper bite without venom?

It is possible for the viper to bite without injecting any venom. This is called a “dry bite.” Gaboon vipers have solenoglyphous teeth. Their fangs rest folded up against the roof of the viper’s mouth, so the snake does not harm itself. When the snake bites its prey, it brings down its fangs to inject the venom.

What do Gaboon vipers eat?

Their diet largely consists of rodents, birds, frogs, and lizards. Occasionally, they have been known to go after larger prey, such as mongoose and hares. Gaboon vipers generally grow to a length of about four to six feet and can reach weights of 20 to 25 pounds.

How big do Gaboon vipers get?

An average of five to seven inches long at birth, males can grow to lengths of three to four feet. In their prime (about five years of age), females far exceed their counterparts in terms of size, sometimes reaching massive spans of six or seven feet. Gaboon vipers can weigh as many as eighteen pounds.

What does a Gaboon snake look like?

Gaboons are beautiful snakes. Their scales can be tan, brown, pink, and purple, and their patterns are often intricate and precisely symmetrical. Gaboon vipers have large, flat heads and horns between their eyes that become more prominent with age.

What is the scientific name of the snake in Gabon?

The snake’s common names include Gaboon viper, butterfly adder, forest puff adder, whisper, swampjack, and Gaboon adder. Originally a name given by the Portuguese, Gabon ( Gabão) refers to the estuary on which the town of Libreville was built, in Gabon, and to a narrow strip of territory on either bank of this arm of the sea.

Where do Gaboon vipers live?

Gaboon Vipers. Gaboon vipers are members of the Viperidae Family and can be found exclusively in Africa. They are one out of the three members of the African Giant vipers group which consists of:

What is a Bitis Gaboon viper?

Bitis gabonica, most commonly known as the Gaboon viper, is a viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Like all vipers, it is venomous. It is the largest member of the genus Bitis, and it has the longest fangs – up to 2 inches in length (5 cm) – and the highest venom yield of any snake.

What is the genus name of a viper snake?

There are several large viper species under the genus Bitis most well known of this group is the Puff Adder and Gaboon Viper. Puff Adders are a wide ranging snake and can be found in most of Africa, there is even a subspecies of Puff Adder that can be found in Somalia.

What are the deadliest snakes in Africa?

The reptiles inhabit rivers with the largest population found in the Niger River Valley. Mali is also home to some of the deadliest snake species in the region. Puff adder is a venomous species of viper found in the Savannah and grassland throughout Africa. Its wide distribution in Africa has led to the most snake bite fatalities in the region.

Do snakes hibernate in winter?

1 Hibernation occurs in endothermic (warm-blooded) animals. It’s defined by a deliberate reduction in body temperature caused by a slowed metabolic rate. … 2 Animals that hibernate sleep throughout the winter. … 3 Snakes still need water when brumating. … 4 During brumation, snakes and other reptiles can tolerate low oxygen levels.

Do snakes hibernate or brumate?

Bear in mind that, unlike hibernation, brumation is not a continuous process. Since snakes do not sleep throughout the process, they may still come out on warmer days. Freak cold snaps can trick snakes into brumating early, but they will surface again when temperatures normalize.