|
|
Click on any of the thumbnail images below to view
an enlarged photo . . . . .
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
About this snake:
The Gaboon Viper lives on the rain forest floor in the equatorial
belt of Tropical Africa. Its markings help camoflauge it amongst
the leaves and spotted sunshine of the rain forest floor. They
spend most of their time motionless in the paths of where their
prey are most likely to cross. Though the Gaboon Viper may seem
sluggish, it strikes its victims with amazing speed and agility.
They are poisonous and deadly and they have two large venom
glands. The venom is a powerful haemotoxin (destroys blood cells
and vessels) and its venemous bite can kill a full grown human
within 15 minutes or quicker. It is important to note however,
that very few people have ever been killed by this beautiful
snake.
Gaboon Vipers can reach an average length of 1.2 meters,
but they have been found as long as 2.2 meters. These animals
will weigh about 7 to 10 kg. Their head approximately 125 mm
(5 inches) big and fangs almost 55 mm (2 inches). This gives
it the longest
fangs of any snake in the world. This snake has fangs that
fold back against the roof of the mouth. It grips onto its prey
until the animal is dead. It then swallows its food whole and
can gulp animals as big as Rabbits. With age this viper grows
a pair of large rostral
horns. When threatened this snake makes a hissing sound while
staying motionless.
The Gaboon Viper is the largest of the vipers and is one
of three members of the African Giant vipers group. This group
includes the Puffadder Bitis arietans, Gaboon Viper Bitis
Gabonica, and the Rhinoceros viper Bitis nasicornis.
East African Gaboons are smaller than their West African counterparts.
|
To
find more images on PHOTOVAULT.com please use our search engine:
PHOTOVALET (®)
Enter search term
Our entire Serpentes collection of images can be
viewed from thumbnails as follows: Snakes
Volume 1. Snakes Volume 2
These photographs are available for licensing
in any media. For Pricing, General Guidelines, and Delivery information
click here.
Please do not ask us
or email us for free use of these images or for free information!
Unfortunately we can not help with
specific questions related to the care, feeding, or extermination
of these animals. We recommend having a sense of awe, wonder,
and reverence, for these fascinating animals in such a way that
we respect and honor their existence.
PHOTOVAULT.com
is a creation by Wernher Krutein
Link
to Site Map Page
PHOTOVAULT.com
is a division of Wernher Krutein Productions Inc.
and is based in San Francisco.
707-775-2562
|