第 0321 号，共 1 402 张

Gaboon viper

Bitis gabonica

名字的由来： The name 'Gaboon' comes from Gabon, a name first given by the Portuguese to an estuary on which the town of Libreville was built.1

可致命不治疗可能会要你的命。如果它咬了你，赶快求助。

蝰蛇

咬伤吃：肉

对人的危险: 非常危险不治疗可能会害死人。

The Gaboon viper is a large, heavy snake with a striking pattern of pale and dark markings. It lives in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the most venomous snakes in the world, so knowing what it looks like matters.1

生活在

Rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea and Ghana east to Kenya and northeast KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa1

非洲

首页

It is usually found in rainforests and nearby woodlands, mainly at low altitudes. It is also common in farmland near forests, such as cacao and coffee plantations, and it is often found on roads at night.1

长度

1.2 m到1.8 m (4.1 ft到5.7 ft)1

体重

8.5 kg到11 kg (19 lb到25 lb)1

最高速度

约 4 公里/小时（2.5 英里/小时）

在陆地上, 粗略估计

它吃什么？

It hunts mainly by ambush, waiting motionless for prey to pass. It eats amphibians, mammals and birds, and it is able to take prey as large as fully grown rabbits. Once it strikes, it holds on to its prey with its fangs rather than letting go.1

Gaboon viper的照片 — Gaboon viper。照片：Nick Schaller。 CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist.

怎样认出它

A large, heavy, stout body, with a large triangular head and a neck much narrower than the head1
A series of pale, rectangular blotches down the centre of the back, with dark hourglass markings edged in yellow1
A white or cream head with a fine dark central line and a dark blue-black triangle behind and below each eye1
Small raised 'horns' between the nostrils, which are tiny in this species1
Its camouflage works well among dead leaves under trees, so it can be hard to see1

常被误认为： The Congolese giant toad (Sclerophrys channingi) may be a mimic of this snake. Its head appears to resemble the viper's head, while its body is darker.1

毒液之力

咬伤

它咬的时候，毒液通过毒牙或牙齿出来。

它的毒液会造成什么？

The venom is cytotoxic, which means it damages cells, and cardiotoxic, which means it harms the heart. Each bite can deliver a large amount of venom, because the snake does not release its grip after biting.1

它对人有多危险？

对人的危险: 非常危险不治疗可能会害死人。

Bites are extremely rare, because the snake is seldom aggressive and lives mostly in rainforest areas. Most bites happen when people accidentally step on it. Even an average bite from an average-sized snake is potentially fatal.1

好消息：医生有药（抗毒血清）或治疗方法。1

它害怕时会做什么？

When threatened it hisses loudly in a deep, steady rhythm and flattens its head slightly with each breath. It is unlikely to strike unless it is severely provoked.1

如果它咬人

Any bite should be treated as a serious medical emergency. Antivenom should be given as soon as possible to save the limb or the person's life.1
让人保持安静不动，被咬的肢体与心脏保持同一高度，摘下戒指和紧身物品，尽快送医院。

一定先拨打你的急救电话（112、000、911）。这里是一般急救指导，不是医疗建议。急救基础

注意安全

永远不要摸、抓或逗弄野生动物，即使是很小的，即使它看起来在睡觉或已经死了。
给它留出空间。如果遇到它，保持冷静，慢慢后退，让它走自己的路。
如果被它咬了：保持冷静，保持不动，拨打你的急救电话（112、000、911）或尽快去医院。记住它长什么样，拍张照片会有帮助。

它不是冲着你来的。它用毒液捕猎或保护自己，而且它更愿意躲起来。更多安全知识

在世界哪里？

非洲亚洲欧洲北美洲南美洲澳大利亚和大洋洲

它有多大？

它有多长？

它有多重？

和 3 只家猫一样重

和 4 只家猫鼻子接尾巴一样长和 10 根香蕉首尾相接一样长90 秒就能跑完 100 米（最快的人需要 9.6 秒）

Gaboon viper和你比起来有多大？

只是在你的浏览器里算一算。什么都不会被保存或发送到任何地方。

它有多快？

一只陆龟 约 0.3 公里/小时 (0.19 mph)

Gaboon viper 约 4 公里/小时 (2.5 mph)

一个在走路的人 约 5 公里/小时 (3.1 mph)

值得了解

事实

A 1.8 m specimen caught in 1973 weighed 11.3 kg with an empty stomach. It is the heaviest venomous snake in Africa.1

Its eyes can move in unusual ways. If its head is turned 360°, one eye tilts up and the other tilts down.1

Although it is one of the fastest-striking snakes in the world, it usually tolerates handling and rarely bites or hisses.1

Unlike many African vipers, such as the puff adder, it does not release its grip after biting.1

Males fight by intertwining their necks and pushing. The winner pushes the other's head to the ground and raises his own head by 20–30 cm.1

谣言粉碎机

谣言： Because it is calm and tolerant, it is safe to handle.

真相： Some writers have described it as so docile it can be handled as freely as a harmless snake. This is absolutely not recommended: it is one of the fastest-striking snakes, and bites by bad-tempered individuals do occur.1

给毒液专家

学名: Bitis gabonica
类别: 蝰蛇
家人: Viperidae2
排序: Squamata
大洲: 非洲
宝宝: The young are born live, and a female can have 50 to 60 babies at one time.1
对人的危险: 4 / 5: 非常危险3