What the sources say
Gaboon ViperBitis gabonica
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Gaboon Viper profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 32 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Gaboon viper. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
- The page saysAfrica's largest viper has a head that mimics a fallen leaf
- The source says
The Gaboon viper is the largest viper in Africa. Its coloration and broad head, which mimics a fallen leaf, camouflages it among leaf litter on the forest floor.
- The page saysthe longest fangs of any venomous snake, up to 5 cm long
- The source says
Their fangs can be 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, making them the longest fangs of any venomous snake.
- The page saysRainforests and wet areas in parts of Central, East and West Africa
- The source says
These vipers live in rainforests and wet areas in parts of Central, East and West Africa.
Note: stats.habitat and body - The page saysSmall and medium-sized mammals and birds
- The source says
They eat small and medium-sized mammals and birds.
Note: stats.diet and body - The page saysFangs up to 5 cm long, the longest of any venomous snake
- The source says
Their fangs can be 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, making them the longest fangs of any venomous snake.
Note: stats.superpower; fang length claimed above - The page saysIts broad head mimics a fallen leaf, right down to the central vein
- The source says
its broad head mimics a fallen leaf, right down to the central vein
- The page saysthe brown, pink and purple diamonds along its back blend into the litter of the forest floor
- The source says
combination of light and dark brown, pink and purple arranged in diamonds and stripes along its back
- The page saysblend into the litter of the forest floor
- The source says
helping it blend into the leaf litter on the forest floor
- The page saysa snake camouflaged to match the forest floor
- The source says
This striking pattern is excellent camouflage in the snake's native habitat, helping it blend into the leaf litter on the forest floor.
- The page saysIt is the largest viper in Africa.
- The source says
The Gaboon viper is the largest viper in Africa.
Note: Taxonomy block; the family name is the claim - The page saysThe National Zoo says Gaboon vipers weigh more than 20 kg and reach more than 1.8 m long, and the biggest have heads nearly 15 cm across
- The source says
weighing more than 45 pounds (20 kilograms) and reaching lengths of more than 6 feet (1.8 meters). The largest individuals have heads nearly 6 inches (15 centimeters) across at their widest point.
Note: ADW's older 7 to 10 kg, 1.2 m average is not used; the current institution page wins. Attributed to the zoo because ADW (7 to 10 kg) and AnAge (2,381 g average adult) give far lower weights. - The page saysThis snake is a passive hunter. It lies hidden and strikes at whatever small creatures pass within range
- The source says
Gaboon vipers are passive hunters, waiting concealed to strike at whatever small creatures pass within range.
- The page saysMost snakes bite and let go. This one holds on until its prey dies.
- The source says
Most snakes strike and release, but this viper holds on until its prey dies.
- The page saysA Gaboon viper can control whether it injects venom and how much, so a strike can range from no effect to rapid death.
- The source says
the viper can control whether it injects venom and how much, so the result of a strike can range from no effect to rapid death.
- The page saysmost bites happen when someone steps on a snake that had no chance to get away
- The source says
Most bites occur when the snake is stepped on before it has an opportunity to get away.
- The page saysFemales can give birth to 50 to 60 live young at a time.
- The source says
Females can have 50 to 60 babies at a time. The young are born live.
- The page saysThey can be 5 cm, or 2 inches, long. According to the National Zoo, no other venomous snake has longer ones.
- The source says
Their fangs can be 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, making them the longest fangs of any venomous snake.
Note: FAQ 1 - The page saysNot by nature. The National Zoo calls it placid and says it very rarely bites people. Bites mostly happen when someone steps on it before it can slip away, and a harassed snake lifts the front of its body and hisses before it strikes.
- The source says
Gaboon vipers have a placid nature and very rarely bite humans. Most bites occur when the snake is stepped on before it has an opportunity to get away. If harassed, it will raise the upper part of its body and hiss in threat before actually striking.
Note: FAQ 2 - The page saysA female can produce 50 to 60 young at a time, and they are born live instead of hatching from eggs.
- The source says
Females can have 50 to 60 babies at a time. The young are born live.
Note: FAQ 3; 'instead of hatching from eggs' is what 'born live' means - The page saysGaboon viper fangs can be 5 cm long, which the National Zoo says makes them the longest of any venomous snake.
- The source says
Their fangs can be 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, making them the longest fangs of any venomous snake.
- The page saysA passive hunter, the Gaboon viper lies hidden and strikes at whatever passes within range
- The source says
Gaboon vipers are passive hunters, waiting concealed to strike at whatever small creatures pass within range.
Note: vibe.reason - The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
- The source says
the result of a strike can range from no effect to rapid death
Source
02
AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources
AnAge entry for Bitis gabonica. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.
- The page saysThe AnAge longevity database lists a maximum of 18 years in captivity
- The source says
Maximum longevity 18 years (captivity)
- The page saysIn captivity, the record in the AnAge database is 18 years.
- The source says
Maximum longevity 18 years (captivity)
Note: FAQ 4
Source
03
Marsh & Whaler 1984
Marsh & Whaler (1984). The Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica): Its biology, venom components and toxinology. Toxicon.
- The page saysA review of the species says it makes prodigious amounts of venom, yet weight for weight the venom is rather low in toxicity next to other poisonous snakes
- The source says
The viper does indeed produce prodigious amounts of venom, but the toxicity, weight for weight, is rather low compared to other poisonous snakes.
- The page saysIn experimental animals, systemic envenomation is marked by an abrupt drop in blood pressure, damage to the heart and laboured breathing
- The source says
Systemic envenomation is characterized by immediate abrupt hypotension, subsequent cardiac damage and dyspnoea.
Note: Scope: the abstract says the venom's effects 'have been studied in a variety of experimental animals'. - The page saysthe snake is docile, and the same review links that to the very low number of human bites
- The source says
This handsome animal with such striking features is undoubtedly docile which accounts for the very low incidence of bite amongst humans.
Source
04
Calvete, Marcinkiewicz & Sanz 2006
Calvete, Marcinkiewicz & Sanz (2006). Snake Venomics of Bitis gabonica gabonica. Protein Family Composition, Subunit Organization of Venom Toxins, and Characterization of Dimeric Disintegrins Bitisgabonin-1 and Bitisgabonin-2. Journal of Proteome Research.
- The page saysA proteomic study of venom from East African Gaboon vipers found 35 proteins, from 12 toxin families
- The source says
The protein composition of the venom of the East African Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica gabonica) was analyzed using RP-HPLC, N-terminal sequencing, MALDI-TOF peptide mass fingerprinting, and CID-MS/MS. In total, 35 proteins of molecular masses in the range of 7-160 kDa and belonging to 12 toxin families were identified.
Source
05
Cundall 2009
Cundall (2009). Viper Fangs: Functional Limitations of Extreme Teeth. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology.
- The page saysA viper's fangs are extremely long, rotating, hollow teeth
- The source says
The fangs of vipers are extremely long, rotating, hollow teeth.
- The page saysA video study of more than 750 strikes by 86 viper species found that vipers reposition their fangs after first contact in more than a third of strikes
- The source says
Analysis of video records of more than 750 strikes recorded at 60 or 250 frames per second for 285 individuals representing 86 species in 31 genera shows that vipers reposition fangs after initial contact with prey in more than a third of the strikes.
- The page saysThe authors say that suggests strong selective pressure for a rapid nerve-and-muscle response to a misplaced fang.
- The source says
The prevalence of repositioning, even among species that normally release prey, suggests strong selective pressure for rapid neuromotor response to fang placement error.
Source
06
Luiselli et al. 2021
Luiselli et al. (2021). Bitis gabonica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T13300893A13300904.
- The page saysVulnerable
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).
Note: stats.conservationStatus. GBIF's copy of the Red List gives taxon 13300893 as Bitis gabonica, the name this profile uses, so the category applies.
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.