Gaboon Viper: A Famous Viper from Africa, the Largest Venomous Snake in Africa

Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica), a well-known viper from the Viperidae family, primarily distributed in tropical rainforests of sub-Saharan Africa, is most common in countries such as Congo, Ghana, and Cameroon.

The snake's body isn't very long, but it's exceptionally stout, earning it the nickname 'snake fat man.' Such large individuals can weigh over 10 kilograms, making it the largest venomous snake in Africa.

Because of its bulky body, the Gaboon Viper's movement differs from that of common snakes, which doesn't involve side-winding. Instead, they use their abdominal muscles to slowly crawl, resembling a caterpillar. Although its appearance is somewhat comical, the Gaboon Viper is quite dangerous to humans. Although the venom of the Gaboon Viper isn't the most potent among all venomous snakes, the amount of venom injected with each bite is far greater than that of other snakes, making a bite from this snake a near-death experience in the wild.

Although the Gaboon Viper doesn't actively attack humans, when it uses its camouflage to wait for prey in the forest leaf litter, unlucky people might accidentally step on these large snakes and be fatally bitten.