Gaboon Viper
Bitis gabonica
CLASS: Reptilia
ORDER: Squamata
FAMILY: Viperidae
SIZE:
4 - 6.6 feet
RANGE:
Central, eastern, and southern Africa
HABITAT:
Tropical forest floor
DIET:
Wild - Rodents
Zoo - Rats and mice
DESCRIPTION:
The pale broad head has a central dark line from front to back and a pair of knobs on the snout. A dark brown triangle runs from the eye to the upper lip.
The body is a rich mixture of purples and browns interspersed with buff or yellow rectancles and velvety brown hourglasses down the middle of the back.
The sides are buff, purple, brown, and pink triangles.
The belly is buff with dark and gray blotches.
FACTS:
The coloration is a great camouflage against the forest floor.
Generally placid, rarely striking.
Venomous; bites cause a lot of tissue damage and be fatal.
YOUNG:
Give birth to as many as 60 live young
STATUS:
Not threatened, common.
REFERENCES:
Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, 2nd ed. Vol. 7 Reptiles, Michael Hutchins, Editor
The Dangerous Snakes of Africa, Stephen Spawls and Bill Branch
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