The Gaboon viper was described in 1854 as Echidna gabonica.
Lenk et al. (1999) discovered genetic … See more

Adults are typically 125–155 cm (4.10–5.09 ft) in total length (body and tail). The maximum total length of this species is often cited as 205 cm (81 in) for a specimen collected in Sierra Leone, but individuals … See more

This species can be found in Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Angola, the Central African Republic… See more

Primarily nocturnal, Gaboon vipers have a reputation for being slow-moving and placid. They usually hunt by ambush, often spending long periods motionless, waiting for suitable prey to pass by, though they have been … See more

Because of their large, heavy body size, the adults have no trouble eating prey as large as fully grown rabbits. When prey happens by, they strike from any angle. They can quickly reposition their fangs if they happen to miss or s… See more