The Gaboon viper, also called the Gaboon adder, is a large and highly venomous viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest member of the genus Bitis. Their bite can be fatal, though they are calm and rarely bite humans. Their fangs can be 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, making them the longest fangs of any venomous snake. There are no known predators of gaboon vipers. They are cryptically colored, blending in well with leaf litter on the forest floor, perhaps to hide from potential prey.
Branch (1992) suggested that 90–100 mg would be fatal in humans. In humans, a bite from a Gaboon viper causes rapid and conspicuous swelling, intense pain, severe shock, and local blistering.
