West African Gaboon Viper/Adder Bitis rhinoceros
The West African Gaboon Viper (B. rhinoceros) was recently reclassified from subspecies to separate species
from the (previously nominal) Gaboon Viper (B. gabonica). It is the world's heaviest viper with the longest fangs and the
highest amount of venom. Like the closely related Puff Adder, both can can puff out their size when threatened.
The West African Gaboon, with its long nose horns, is native to West Africa from Togo to Guinea and the Gaboon (without the long
nose horns) to Gabon, Congo and other countries mainly in central Africa.
Its artistic patterns are actually very effective camouflage in leaf litter. Although it is not generally
aggressive, most bites result from it being accidentally stepped on. The "rhinoceros" in the species name is due
to the horns shown on the nose - it is also closely related to the similarly-patterned but more colourful Rhinoceros Viper,
B. nasicornis, which could lead to confusion of names.
It can grow to over 5 feet (1.5 metres) length and eats mice, rats and even rabbits/hares.