Gaboon
Viper
The snake in the photo to the
right is a gaboon viper. This species is a heavy bodied, ground
dwelling snake with remarkably intricate patterns that make it almost
invisible when resting in leaf litter. Gaboon vipers are one of the
reptile world's extreme animals. They have the longest fangs of any
venomous snake! Fang lengths of up to 5 cm (2 inches) have been
reported. These long, lethal fangs, are actually folded inside the
snake's mouth when not in use. During a strike, the fangs spring to
action from their resting position. Despite these large and
potentially lethal weapons gaboon vipers are not out to kill anything
other than their prey. Like all venomous snakes, the purpose of
their large teeth and venom is for feeding rather than defense.
Each
fang is like a hypodermic needle attached to the venom ducts. When
the snake bites its prey, muscles squeeze the venom glands in the snake's
cheeks delivering a lethal dose of venom out the tiny hole in the end of
the fang.