A large, robust adder that averages 1.2 meters, but may exceed 2 m. This beautifully-coloured snake occurs in thick tropical and coastal forest.
Full Name: Western Gaboon Adder (Bitis rhinoceros)
Classification: HIGHLY VENOMOUS
A large, robust adder that averages 1.2 meters, but may exceed 2 m. This beautifully-coloured snake occurs in thick tropical and coastal forest.
Though mainly active at night, it is fond of basking on the fringes of forests. It is surprisingly placid but may emit a series of long, drawn-out hisses.
It is distinguishable from the Gaboon Adder (Bitis gabonica) as it has a single black triangle under the eye, compared to two in the Gaboon Adder. Additionally, there is usually a pair of horns on the nose. This snake has a potent predominantly cytotoxic venom. Symptoms may include shock, severe pain, swelling, blistering and necrosis. Polyvalent antivenom is effective.
