Central and Southern Africa 



Dorsal colfir varies from rather dark rertdisli to gray- 

 ish brown in tlie east to very light gray, buff, or pinliish 

 in the west. A vertebral row of rectangular blotches 

 with a \isually alternating series of smaller and more 

 rounded blotches laterally. Blotches usually with light 

 centers and often white-edged. A dark-edged light hand 

 passes across the crown through the eyes and ol)U(iuely 

 to the rear of the mouth : a V-shaped mark on crown. 

 Pattern obscure in western, light-colored individuals. 



Dorsals in 21-29 rows at midhody. Ventrals 120-1.")3: 

 subcaudals 18-34, the posterior ones usually with lateral 

 keels. 



Dixtrihiition: Desert regions of southern Angola and 

 western Rhodesia southward through the central jiart 

 of Cape Province; absent frnm eastern and western 

 parts of the Cape. 



ItriiKirlcn: This small viper has a highly toxic venom 

 and some deaths are reported as a result of its bite. 

 It often conceals it.self in the surface of tlie sand and 

 strikes out from this jiosilion willi lillle provocation. 



Antiveniiis i I'olyv.-ilcni, froui oilier vi|icr venoms) 

 produced by Hehringwei-ke. the Inslilul Pasteur and 

 the Soulb .\frican Institute for .Medical Kesearch are 

 said to be effective. 



Gaboon Viper, /////'.s (/(ihoiiicn. ( I )iiiiir'iil, 15ibroii, 

 and DiiiiKM'il ). 



Iilciilififiiliiiii: A ver.v large and extremely thick- 

 bodied vi])er with a distinctive color pattern; crown of 

 head t.iu willi .1 luirrow brown median stripe. The only 

 snake with which it is likely to be confused is the river 

 ja<-k ( /)'. iKixicdniix ) . wliicli luis a large and distinct 

 arrow-shaped mark on the crown. Adults average 4 to 

 5 feet: record length is 6 feet nVj inches (from Sierra 

 Leone ) . 



Bod.v ]iatlerii is a comiilex geometrical arrangement of 

 tans, blues, and blacks, some of the markings with 

 white edges. The pattern may be (piite brilliant luit it 

 is highly disruptive and the gaboon viper is diffiiult to 

 see on the leaf-covered forest floor. 



A iiair of triangular nasal "horns," much more evident 



in west African individuals. Dorsals in 28-46 slightly 

 oblique rows at midhody. Ventrals 12.5-140; subcaudals 

 l"-33. 



Diistrihittion: Tropical rain forests and their im- 

 mediate environs from Sierra Leone and southern Sudan 

 southward to northern Angola and northern Xatal. 



RrmnrUx: This is the largest of the vipers. The 

 fangs are almost 2 inches long in large individuals and 

 there are very large amoiuits of highly toxic venom. 

 However, the gaboon viper is nocturnal in habit and 

 difficult to awaken in the daytime. Relatively few bites 

 are inflicted by this sluggish snake but they are very 

 serious and usually are lethal without iirompt treatment. 



Polyvalent antivenins are lu'oduced by Behringwerke, 

 the InstitiU Pasteur and the Soiuh .\frican Instilute 

 for Medical Research. 



PufF Adder, Hitix itricfniix ( Mi'iiem ). 

 I<l< iitifiiatioii: The rough-scaled appearance and the 

 alternating pattern of dark and light chevron-shaped 



■S.V-.V . V...- ... .,.>.,■..■.' •■ . 



l-'icruE 71. — Puff Adder, Hitis arictans. Photo by Zoo- 

 logical Society of San Diego. (See also plate II, 

 tigure 4.) 



PiGt-TRE 70. — Gaboon Viper, liitix i/iiboiiii-u. I'hoto by 

 Charles Hackenbrock and Staten Island Zoo. 



markings are characteristic. Head lanccolale: nostrils 

 face more directly upward than in other African vipers. 

 -Vdults average 3 to 4 feet : occasional individuals attain 

 .1 length of .") feet. 



A light band crosses head lictweeii eyes and is con- 

 tinued as a diagonal band from the eye to the rear of 

 the mouth. Ground cohu- varies from light grayish tan 

 or yellow to dark brown: either the light or the dark 

 chevron series ma.v be emphasized, depending on the 

 density of the ground color. 



Dorsals in 29-41 rows at midbody. Ventrals 124-147; 

 subcaudals 16-37. 



DistrihiitiiDi: Savannah and grasslands from Morocco 

 ,ind western Arabia throughout Africa except for the 

 Sahara and rain forest regions. Found from sea level 

 to elevations of at least 9,000 feet. 



neinarlii: Due to Its wide distribution, common oc- 

 currence, and lethal potential, the imff adder probably 

 kills more people than any other African snake. The 



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