Animals in nature are truly magical. Creatures that look fearsome can transform into something adorable in just a second, only to reveal their most ferocious attack in the next. A Facebook user shared a peculiar photo in the "Animal Meme Planet" group: "Abroad, a roadside skeleton was mistaken for a certain creature's remains, but it turned out to be a live, venomous snake." The image shows what appears to be a skeleton on the concrete, but it's actually a living Gaboon viper.
According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Gaboon vipers are generally calm and rarely bite humans. However, being bitten by one poses a fatal risk. The Gaboon viper has the longest fangs of any venomous snake, reaching up to 5 cm in length. They have short tails and broad, flat heads that resemble fallen leaves, allowing them to blend into their forest habitat effectively.
The photo at the beginning of this article shows a small, seemingly cute Gaboon viper. However, these snakes are actually the largest venomous snakes in Africa, growing up to 1.8 meters long and weighing up to 20 kg. Unlike typical snakes, Gaboon vipers move in a way that resembles a caterpillar crawling, which has left many netizens amazed: "So cool, it moves like a caterpillar," "Ellen Ye," "A bit like a caterpillar (gave me goosebumps)," "I like snakes, but this feels like an insect," "Big rock snake," "This really scared me," "The crawling motion is kind of cute," "So impressive with its camouflage."
The Gaboon Viper looks like its own skeleton...😳 pic.twitter.com/imqKwKOZFj
— Dr. Ajayita (@DoctorAjayita) May 29, 2023
The contrast between the Gaboon viper's still and moving forms is quite striking. Whether they are stationary or in motion, these snakes are masters of disguise.
