08/08/2025
Meet the mesmerizing Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis). Instantly recognizable by its vivid geometric patterns—ranging from brilliant blues and greens to yellows—and its signature horn-like scales on the snout, this large viper can reach up to 1.5m, with females often larger than males.
With a broad, triangular head and robust, thick body, its stunning coloration doubles as camouflage, helping it blend effortlessly into dense leaf litter or the dappled shadows of Ugandan forests and wetlands. Despite being one of Africa’s most venomous snakes, the Rhinoceros Viper is surprisingly calm and prefers to avoid confrontation, warning intruders with a fierce hiss rather than striking.
The Rhinoceros Viper is a master of patience and stealth—a true ambush predator! Nocturnal and mainly terrestrial, it waits motionless for hours, relying on its camouflage to surprise prey along forest trails. Its diet mostly consists of rodents and small mammals, but it also eats frogs, birds, and fish, especially in wetter habitats.
