Rattlesnake Vs. Gaboon Viper

Two venomous snakes that have some things in common are the Gaboon viper and the rattlesnake. Both dine on creatures they capture and subdue with their venom, and both are nocturnal, hunting when the sun goes down.

Geography

The Gaboon viper resides in the rainforests of central Africa, while the approximately 30 rattlesnake species exist across North America and into much of South America.

Size

The eastern diamondback rattler attains lengths upwards to 8 feet, while a species known as the ridge-nosed rattlesnake is barely a foot long. The Gaboon viper ranges in size between 4 and 7 feet and is the heaviest poisonous snake in Africa, weighing as much as 25 lbs.

Behavior

The rattlesnake has rings of keratin on its tails that the snake employs to create a hissing noise to warn away what it perceives as a threat. The Gaboon viper will hiss and raise the front of its body when it feels threatened.

Pit Vipers

Rattlers and Gaboon vipers are pit vipers, meaning that they possess specialized heat-sensitive organs on the sides of their heads that allow them to detect warm-blooded prey in the dark.

Considerations

No snake has longer fangs than a Gaboon viper. In some instances, the fangs of this reptile approach 2 inches in length. It uses its fangs to inject venom into its prey, which it waits in ambush for, concealed by its coloration in the leaves.

Fun Fact

Both of these venomous snakes give birth to live young, which are able to live independently almost the minute they are born.

References

• San Diego Zoo: Rattlesnake
• Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens: Gaboon Viper