Gaboon viper

Gaboon viper
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bitis
Species:
B. gabonica
Binomial name
Bitis gabonica
Distribution range
Synonyms
  • Echidna Gabonica A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
  • Bitis gabonica Boulenger, 1896
  • Cobra gabonica Mertens, 1937
  • Bitis gabonica gabonica
    Mertens, 1951
  • Bi[tis]. javonica Suzuki & Iwanga, 1970
  • Bitis gabonica Golay et al., 1993

The Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica), also called the Gaboon adder, is a large and highly venomous viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest member of the genus Bitis. Like all other vipers, it is venomous, and it has the longest fangs of any venomous snake up to 2 inches (5.1 cm) in length and the highest venom yield of any snake. No subspecies are recognized.