r/AbsoluteUnits • u/freudian_nipps • 3d ago
of a Viper.
Video credit: @jayprehistoricpets
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u/Temporary_Tune5430 3d ago
The patterns 😍
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u/pranjallk1995 3d ago
The walk 😵💫
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u/freudian_nipps 3d ago
The width!
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u/VeryResponsibleMan 3d ago
The bite
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u/Dragoarms 3d ago
RE the walk - that video doesn't do it justice. Here is one i saw at work
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u/merRedditor 3d ago
This snake mesmerizes its prey with its cool exterior before going in for the kill.
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u/Adonitologica 3d ago
He seems pretty docile
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u/100percentnotaqu 3d ago edited 3d ago
Yeah. Gaboon Vipers generally are.
They're adapted perfectly to veg out, almost impossible for predators to detect because of their camouflage and the fact they have basically no scent. Even trained tracking dogs struggle to find them
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u/Evignity 3d ago edited 1d ago
Ex K9-handler, if what you're saying about the dog part is true that's pretty insane, considering trained dogs can scent and find a single piece of clothing- or a bullet in a 6square-kilometers area of heavy forest.
From what we experience the only thing that works against dogs is walking in rivers/swimming, or coffee (it neutralizes scent), but anything else can be trained on and be found. Dogs will even sniff through concentrated teargas just for the thrill of the hunt, they're that insane.
Do you have any source or reading because I'd love to read it, genuinely curious as to how often a dog trained on snakes is used and for what occupation. Conservationists perhaps?
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u/just_another_scumbag 2d ago
Random internet guy here. I've heard of dogs being used to track down lots of animals for conservation, especially wolves, but never snakes. I too am interested..
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u/RyantheSithLord 2d ago
Their strike and fangs are no joke. The worst mistake you can make is taking advantage of its docility. Its large head allows it to store a lot of venom. They are some of the most FAFO snakes out there, because they can strike at a speed of almost 200 MPH, and their venom can have you meeting Steve Irwin within the next few hours.
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u/jakoobie6 3d ago
Till he's not
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u/gokartninja 3d ago
Those thick-bodied terrestrial snakes are faster than they look. The short tailed pythons are the same way. Extra thick, but it's all muscle and it's all used for propelling the head forward and mach Jesus
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u/javoss88 3d ago
Mach Jesus lol new unit of measurement
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u/Changoleo 3d ago
I’m upgrading to “Mach J-F-C”.
Still no ludicrous speed, but it’s fast for us terrestrials.
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u/LinguoBuxo 3d ago
that's because in this position, he can only reach an inch or two. Snakes need to be coiled in order to be able to strike with any real force or speed.
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u/all_of_the_ones 3d ago
These guys also have the quickest strike, are venomous with possibly the largest amount of venom delivery, and have the longest fangs of all venomous snakes, like 2” long. They are generally docile, but if they DO strike, it’s very potentially fatal if not treated immediately.
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u/Extension_Benefit521 3d ago
Why's does it look ummm short? Maybe stubby? I don't k ow the word im looking for but most snakes are long and thin he seems squished and chunky, don't come at me please im truly interested as to why he isn't long
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u/Katatonic92 3d ago
They are ambush predators & being built like a brick shithouse is better for that style of hunting. They aren't really fat, it is mostly muscle.
From google,
"Gaboon vipers are short and fat because this physical trait aids in their ambush hunting strategy by providing excellent camouflage among leaf litter on the forest floor, helping them to remain still for long periods to surprise prey. Their heavy, stocky build also supports a unique, slow form of rectilinear movement, using their belly muscles to inch along rather than slithering, which is effective for their sedentary, ambush-based lifestyle."
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u/discomuffin 3d ago
sedentary, ambush-based lifestyle
If only I knew this term when I was 12. Take that, mom!
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u/TheBoosThree 3d ago
That chonks all muscle, which gives it an incredibly fast strike speed.
I don't know if there's an official ranking, but it's commonly (though probably falsely) named as the fastest snake bite in the world. Even if not first, it's up there.
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u/Whoudini13 3d ago
Is that a Gabon viper..probably spelled wrong
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u/Ruffffian 3d ago
Gaboon viper. Has the distinction of the longest fangs in the animal kingdom—over 2” of death injectors. They’re pretty docile as far as snakes go but still would not pet
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u/Diedead666 3d ago
I think someone had one as a pet It was on that one shows where people had dangerous spiders and snakes said the person died throwing up and s******* blood all over the place
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u/IronChefBender 3d ago
Fatal Attractions! It was on NatGeo or Animal Planet, I think. That episode lives in my mind rent free
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u/Diedead666 3d ago
Ya I think it was a woman she dint call for help fearing for her snake if I remember right?
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u/werealldoomed47 3d ago
I wonder if a bite could go like all the way through your hand so the venom wouldn't actually go into your body or if it would stop.
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u/-E-Cross 3d ago
They can bite through their own jaw and have envenomated like that.
Happens with vipers a lot
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u/Maximuscarnage 3d ago
Gaboon vipers are found in Gabon Africa.
Travel tip for Gabon, make sure only to carry on. The Country spelled backwards is Nobag. And it lives up to ifs name. You will almost never get your stuff if you check it on a flight to Gabon west Africa.
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u/freebaseclams 3d ago
I once had diarrhea for 17 hours straight
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u/xubax 3d ago
Were you prepping for a colonoscopy?
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u/freebaseclams 3d ago edited 3d ago
No, I was trying to make a sculpture of James Corden but I didn't have enough shit
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u/themysticboer91 3d ago
I was confused because I've never seen these in south Africa. The closest thing we got is a Puff Adder, but they have different patterns and head shape, and extremely potent venom
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u/Cultural-Company282 3d ago
I believe that is actually a closely-related rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis) rather than a gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) based on the "horn" projections on the tip of the snout.
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u/icymara 3d ago
Gaboon vipers are my favorite. That dude is trash (look up his abusive practices if you're curious).
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u/ImplementFun9065 2d ago
Rather not give him the clicks then. What are some examples of the crap he has done?
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u/Interesting-Risk6446 3d ago
Was this the same one that was being kept in a drawer?
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u/expespuella 3d ago
It's Jay at Prehistoric Pets, so good chance.
PP breeds a lot, for which heated drawer systems are often used. But Jay and PP have a reputation for overfeeding and overbreeding for kicks.
We do not need more 14'+ novelty snakes that people will not care for long-term ie reticulated/Burmese pythons.
He's engaging and educational but destructively unethical.
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u/No-Championship-5480 3d ago
That is one hell of a fat nope rope! I'll safely watch all videos related and let the experts take the risk studying them up close.
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u/Super_boredom138 3d ago
Snakes dont normally bother me but the proportions of this thing and shape of its head really freak me out it doesn't look like it belongs here
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u/dadbodfordays 3d ago
It looks like a snake dressed up as a larger snake. Like something analogous to those inflatable sumo wrestler costumes.
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u/Isernogwattesnacken 3d ago
I guess it's a Gaboon viper. They aren't aggressive, but their venom is among the worst out there
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u/Signal-Self-353 3d ago
The camouflage is incredible it looks like he has little fish fillets on his back
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u/FunFlaCouple1 3d ago
“DANGER NOODLE” it took me ALL these years to find the perfect title for my first porn!!
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u/Common_Scholar5350 3d ago
The thumbnail made it look like the guy had a slendery leg wearing snake pattern tights 😭
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u/HorridChoob 3d ago
Those markings are wild, took me a moment not to see it as a living cardboard snake
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u/Wooden-Creme-8599 3d ago
Whats with the interstellar shit. Seriously, whats the thoughtprocess here, this giant snake needs a sci-fi symphony
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u/DependentStrike4414 3d ago
Do you think laying next to it will make me feel less anxious???
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u/Extension_Benefit521 3d ago
Very true! I will now not think of snakes as only long stick like critters lol
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u/nmheath03 3d ago
Gaboon vipers are pretty docile all things considered, iirc there have been instances of people stepping on them not knowing they're there and still not getting bit. That said, they have the longest fangs of any venomous snake, extremely potent venom, and a tendency to hold on when they do bite, so don't test it.
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u/Sea-Morning-772 3d ago
I love the markings on the side of its head, making it look like the eyes are huge. So cool.
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u/skittlz61 3d ago
I have a buddy that used to try to give me one. Hell nah lol I only had bush vipers.
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u/PenguinColada 3d ago
Gabbies are just so stinking gorgeous! Won't catch me that close to one though
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u/PhilosophyGhoti 3d ago
Gaboon vipers are my absolute favourite snake and you could not pay me any amount of money to be that close to one.
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u/wepfetty 3d ago
I thought it was some kind of cardboard cut-out puppet or something that the guy was using the stick to control. That pattern is insane.
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u/fluffy_flat 3d ago
I really can’t stand any creatures without legs such as slugs, worms and snakes. This viper really gives me anxiety and fear, really scary looking goodness
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u/EnigmaNero 3d ago
The Gaboon Viper, which subspecies, I don't know. But they have the largest fangs(up to 2inches long) and venom glands out of any other venomous snake on the planet. They're ambush predators, and can go months without food. Their venom is a nasty concoction of hemotoxic, neurotoxic, and cytotoxic venom.
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u/Background_Pride_237 3d ago
It looks like a fat Lego snake poorly done. At least it has a good defense mechanism.
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u/ScubaSeth 3d ago
That’s an East African Gaboon Viper based off of the tan/brown color if I’m not mistaken, but I’m not an expert so could be wrong.
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u/Content_Geologist420 3d ago
Every time I see this viper on Reddit, it unleashes a primal drive in me to either burn it, run away very fast, or have eye-wide frozen fear all in one.
Also, just like every time I see that one fat gator sunbathing on the pond near my house when I want to fish. Fucking modern dinosaurs are terrifying.
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u/stroker919 3d ago
I like snakes fine, but this guy walks like a giant caterpillar and therefore needs to be squashed.
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u/thismeatsucks 3d ago
Can’t believe Dodge invented these.