The African Gaboon Viper: Longest Fangs On The Planet
By Gloria Siess, {"Garnetbird"}
If someone asked you what snake possesses the longest fangs in the world, what would you say? The answer is, the African Gaboon Viper. This reptile makes its home in Africa, where it prefers the bushy moistness of the Rain Forest. It lays in wait for its prey, ambushing them with a sudden, shocking lunge. It eats mammals and birds of differing sizes. The female Gaboon Viper gives birth to up to 17 young at one time.
This is not an accommodating pet (even for a snake) but many reptile enthusiasts adore keeping them. They have a thick body, wedge-shaped head, and can grow to be 6 feet long. These snakes are members of the Puff Adder Family. They must be very carefully handled as like all reptiles, they can be unpredictable and territorial. The photo of the man's hand decomposing from a Gaboon Viper bite is a lesson to be learned for any snake handler.
I recently watched an amazing program on National Geographic concerning a Gaboon Viper and its owner. Apparently the snake had bitten its handler and was taken away by Animal Control, to insure the man's safety. The administration was compassionate, however and allowed him to have "supervised visits" with his Gaboon Viper, something I found rather amusing and a tribute to human feats of forgiveness.
