Gaboon Viper - Gabon

The earliest inhabitants of Gabon were Pygmy people; Baka, Babongo, Bakoya, Barimba, and several others. They were replaced by Bantu people migrating into the area during the 14th century. Their numbers are in decline and it is estimated there only 7,000 to 20,000 Pygmies currently living in Gabon.

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Bitis gabonica rhinoceros - The Gaboon viper is the largest viper of the Bitis genus, a genus of venomous vipers indigenous to Africa and the southern portions of the Arabian Peninsula. The Gaboon viper has the distinction of having the heaviest venom yield of any poisonous snake and the longest fangs; 5 centimeters in length. Most vipers strike their prey and pull back to wait until the venom takes effect; the Gaboon viper uses its long fangs to keep hold of its prey until the victim is rendered motionless and ready to be swallowed.

Carpet Viper - Senegal

Senegal is the western most country on the African mainland. Senegal’s capital city is located on the Cape-Vert Peninsula, once a favorite moorage point for European sailing vessels for procuring supplies and to trade with the locals as they passed along the shipping routes between Europe and Asia.

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Echis leucogaster - The carpet viper is not a desert snake, but thrives best in semi-arid locations along dry river beds or the edges of oases having some degree of vegetation. It is a small snake, growing to an average length of about 30 centimeters. The carpet viper’s diet is limited to prey animals including scorpions and centipedes. Despite its size, the carpet viper has a reputation of being a bad-tempered snake able to deliver a deadly bite resulting in hemolysis, a condition effecting the blood’s ability to clot.

Spotted Harlequin Snake - Mpumalanga

The Blyde River Canyon is located in the northern region of South Africa’s Drakensberg Escarpment. It is about 25 kilometers in length and reaches an average depth of 750 meters. Blyde River is one of the largest canyons on earth and the dense subtropical landscape makes it the world’s largest “green canyon.”

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Homoroselaps lacteus - Known as Gespikkelde Harlekynslang in Afrikaans, the spotted harlequin snake, one of two species in the Homoroselaps genus, is found throughout the southern regions of South Africa. Adults grow to 65 centimeters in length; newborns start life at about 14 centimeters. Females lay 6 to 9 eggs during the summer breeding season. The spotted harlequin snake is venomous, but not deadly to humans. A bite will cause mild pain and swelling. Mostly active during the night, it prefers hunting legless skinks, lizards, and other small snakes.

Martinique Lancehead - Martinique

Mount Pelée is a volcano located in the northern region of Martinique. It is listed as being quiescent, a term describing an inactive volcano registering seismic activity. The 1902 Mount Pelée eruption became the 3rd deadliest volcanic eruption in modern history. The pyroclastic flows killed more than 30,000 people.

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Bothrops lanceolatus - Thirty-two species make up the Bothrops genus. This group is closely related to the rattlesnake and is also found only in the Americas. The Martinique lancehead, or fer-de-lance, is endemic to the island of Martinique. It is named for its large triangular head. The body is slender, olive-brown in color, and has dark hourglass markings on the dorsal side; the underside is greyish-white. In length, the snake grows to a maximum of 1.8 meters. The lancehead is a nocturnal predator and shelters in burrows during the day.

Common European Adder - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Roztoc was a settlement established along the Warnow River by Polabian Slavs in the 11th century. The town was abandoned after being sacked by Valdemar I of Denmark in 1161. Germanic traders quickly resettled the area and a new town, Rostock, emerged to become an important trading center situated on the Baltic coast.

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Vipera berus - The common European adder is found in large numbers throughout Western Europe. It is a venomous snake, but not dangerous. It will only strike as a last resort when confronted with danger, but a bite is seldom fatal. Pregnant females will usually emit a hissing sound to warn intruders to stay away. Females give live birth from July to October with litters ranging from three to twenty individuals. The young are encased in a translucent member; after breaking free, they usually stay in the vicinity of the mother for several days.