Stats

Lifespan

15-20 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Nocturnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Tropical rainforest

Range

West Africa

Movement

Slithering

Breeding

Live Birth

Defense

Venom

Status

Rare

About

A massive, heavily patterned viper of West African rainforests, camouflaged in a geometric carpet of purple, brown, and tan. It has the longest fangs of any snake, up to two inches, and delivers one of the largest venom yields of any venomous species, yet is famously slow to strike, relying on stillness and camouflage first.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Viperidae

Genus

Bitis

Species

Bitis rhinoceros