Gaboon Viper, Bitis gabonica, is a venomous snake occurring in West Africa. They are the largest of the vipers, with an average adult length of about 1.2 meters. The species is represented by the B. g. rhinoceros subspecies in Nigeria, distinct by the presence of large nasal “horns”. Called Paramole in Yoruba, meaning, “hidden in the ground,” their strikingly marked bodies are in the wild almost impossible to see among the ground and leaf litter. Inspite of its huge venom mass, the toxicity is rather low compared to other poisonous snakes. Gaboon vipers are viviparous, with a 7-month gestation period. They give birth to about 30 or more offspring at once.
Contributor: 
