Gaboon viper vs. Eastern diamondback rattlesnake - Battle of the deadly snakes
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The West African gaboon viper (Bitis rhinoceros) and the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) belong to the largest venomous snakes in the world. Both species can grow at least 2 meters long and can weigh over 10 kg. The West African gaboon viper and the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake have very high venom yields. The typical amounts of venom injected in one bite are massive. But which one of these heavyweight vipers is deadlier? In this video we use 5 categories to find out who would win a hypothetical battle between these deadly snakes! We compare the behavior, size, speed, venom and also how difficult it is to handle these snakes.
Note: West African gaboon viper (Bitis rhinoceros) was considered the same species as the Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica) until 1999. However, these two species are morphologically and genetically different from each other. Also, Bitis rhinoceros seems to grow a bit larger than Bitis gabonica, so we chose it for this video.
Remember that snakes are never aggressive, only defensive if they feel threatened! Calm handler = calm snake.
"The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is a bit less robust and is faster than the West African Gaboon Viper" That's one way of calling the Gaboon a fatty. lol
Honestly, the Gaboon viper is a fat snake 😀
But it’s all muscle!
A change of pace from you guys. The photography remains a class apart, just phenomenal. Thank you!
Great that you love the pace and photography too! 🙂
Zoologist Marlin Perkins was once bitten by a Gaboon Viper and described it as having a cigarette ground out on your flesh (or words to that effect; I read this many years ago but never forgot the incident).
A bite from a Gaboon viper is very serious and extremely painful!
I read that as well: they were treating the snake, and he got one fang in one finger. At that time, there was no specific antivenom. They gave him three antivenoms. He bled profusely, and they thought there was evidence of neurotoxicity as well. Regarding venom toxicity, Al Coritz ("Viperkeeper") said that there isn't much difference between falling off a twenty story building or a ten story building!
Another awesome video with beautiful footage. 🐍👏
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Your crew is very Respected
Thank you very much!
This is absolutely true.
@@tommyduk1779 We appreciate that you think so! 🙂
Maybe a similar video comparing the Black Mamba to an Eastern Brown. Just an idea. Another excellent video by the waý, many thanks.
We already had both these species in different comparisons last year, but a “battle” of these two is definitely an option 🙂
A great video as always. That Gaboon viper is one of my favourites, chubby and fabulous.
You're producing a lot of videos lately. That's great! I just hope for you that the dreaded algorithm does its part - you've done yours wonderfully as always.
Working hard, yes! But unfortunately, this year the algorithm does not help much and number of views is decreasing. Happy to hear that you love our content 🙏
You are extremely brave people! I will never mess with such beasts! Why did I watch this video for a night?
Thank you for watching! Don’t worry and sleep well! 🙂
Amazing footage! Already one of my favorite channels
Wow, thanks! Please check our older videos too! 🙏
Wonderful snakes
These two species are wonderful, we agree!
Epic video as always! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Thank you Odin! 🙌
Totally awesome 👍
Thanks a lot! 👍
Nice video as always! I would love to see a video of: Crotalus atrox vs Bitis gabonica :)
I have watched quite a few of your videos & appreciate your respect of how both of you treat and handle any species! Amazing!!!!
That was great to see how you get up close and personal in your filming endeavours, it's no wonder the rattlesnake was always rattling, with you that close. In one of your previous videos I think you showed the Gaboon viper striking. I first saw one of these spectacular snakes in Amsterdam zoo in about 1973/4. Absolutely the best camouflage, the only bit that is clearly visible to me when it's lying in leaf litter is the dorsal region that is about 1-2 inches wide, and only because of the shimmer.
I agree with the overall conclusions, but I think you miss a couple of things in your discussion: 1) Strike Speed: Gaboon Viper. As well as "Fang Size." Point of that is merely that a Gaboon's strike is incredibly fast and will penetrate more than the Rattlesnake. 2) Strike Range: Eastern Diamondback. The Eastern Diamondback can strike can reach roughly half it's body length, meaning it can "reach out and touch someone" from a further distance than the Gaboon can. 3) Habitat: Eastern Diamondback. The Eastern is just more likely to come into conflict with people more than the Gaboon because it's habitat coincides with more people. 4) Anti-venin: Gaboon Viper. Maybe it's because the Eastern does come into more conflict with people, there is well-developed and a large stock of anti-venin. Not to mention that, if you get bitten in North America, you are just closer to good medical care. If the Gaboon lands a bite, you're probably in more trouble. But statistically, you are more likely to get bitten by the Eastern Diamondback. On just a "numbers" case, the Eastern is the more "dangerous" snake, but because of the anti-venin and medical care available, it's less "deadly" than a Gaboon Viper. Then again, more idiot keepers in North America are likely to keep a Gaboon Viper and try "free handling it" so...
Both of these snakes are fine examples of evolutionary perfection. They both have stellar reputations. They both have absolutely beautiful natural camouflage. They're both fat, curvy, and sexy as a snake could ever be. I love both of them.
Both of them fabulousy beautiful snakes, although the Gaboon may have it.... Please, no snake slithers, unless someone wants to perpetuate the many negative stories and folklore about snakes. Snakes progress is about the best it gets in English. They are just walking on their ribs, after all. Fabulous snakes, fabulous filming. Thanks, as ever, for posting
Thank you for watching! The verb slither or crawl is widely used in English (even in scientific language) and we think that it is ok to use it. Of course many people have negative attitude to snakes and we try to change it!
Very god info about this beautiful species, amazing footage, that rattlesnake looks amazing!
Thank you very much! Great that you love both the footage and the information!
Humm... the Gabon viper on the thumbnail looks a lot like a Rhino viper ?! 😉 Thank you very much for your work and your beautiful images.
It is the West African gaboon viper 🙂 Check the description of the video. Hopefully you will love the video! 🙂
For me Bitis rhinoceros was the rhino viper and B.gabonica is the gaboon viper. But I think I was misled by the vernacular name that I never use. But I have the impression that in english rhino viper refers to B.nasicornis more than B.rhinoceros ? So I have nothing to say about your thumbnail ❤, but I leave my comment to help SEO. 😉
I just read the description of the video. No possible confusion 😉👌
@@LeveLaJambe Thanks for asking, it is absolutely ok and good to have some comments under the video 🙂 Yes, the Rhinoceros viper is Bitis nasicornis. The West African gaboon viper is Bitis rhinoceros. It is confusing for many people.
@@LeveLaJambe Great! 🙂
awesome "battle" video - can't wait to see lachesis melanocephala/muta/stenophrys in this video series
Thank you very much! We plan to make an episode with one of the bushmasters!
Another excellent video. Very informative and beautifully photographed. Thank you. P.S. I think your wife is beautiful. You're a very lucky man.
Thank you kindly! Great that you enjoy watching our footage 🙂 And I agree that Zuzana is beautiful and the best wife ❤️
I've worked in forestry management for all my adult working career, mostly in GA/SC. In 1978 my first year I saw the largest the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake I ever saw in a large paper company tract in chesterfield county SC right off pee dee river. I would imagine Chesterfield County would have been the top of their range? By the 1990s I noticed they weren't in the upper coastal plain as much and by my retirement 2007 I basically never saw them. There is still plenty of habitat so it's strange how fast they went away from late 70s seeing them in chesterfield county to 2000s basically down towards Charleston area.
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
There have only been about 7 documented sightings of Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes in NC in the past ten years all at Camp Lejeune Jacksonville NC . When Interstate 42 is completed that will probably be the end of the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake in NC.
Gaboon vipers r my favourite. Really enjoyed the video
Glad you enjoyed watching our video!
Molto bello grazie
Thank you very much!
Great job guys! I really enjoyed this video. One suggestion I would make is when you compared the venom it was a bit hard for me to compare the numbers by memory and also I'm not familiar with the scientific terms. But if you ended each by stating "1 drop of this venom can kill 1000 mice and 5 humans. And bite with a full dose of venom can kill 10 000 mice and 200 humans." Something like that would be easier for me to understand. Thanks for the beautiful footage of these deadly creatures. Love from Canada 🇨🇦❤
Thank you very much!!! ❤️ The problem with comparing venom toxicity is that you need to have an easily comparable metrics. Estimates about how many people or mice can one bite kill are not very scientific and difficult to compare. Every bite is different, every human/mouse reacts differently. Comparing venom toxicity using LD50 test is the best way we have nowadays. In this test, venom of the Gaboon viper is sligthly more toxic. The lower the value, the more toxic venom.
@@LivingZoology yes I understand. Many variables can change the outcome of a bite. Thanks! 😊💙
@@GodsFirmament Welcome! 🙂
If you never meet or seen the true gaboon viper , u will simply say that gaboon is not deadly snakes, gaboon is very strong, fast and well suited in the nature, so i will go with gaboon, very nice video.👌
Great to see how they move, quite different from an elapid.
Yes, their movement is interesting and different from elapids 🙂
I was always under the impression that the Gaboon Viper is among the most painful bites of any snake. If taking proximity to humans into consideration, I'm certain the Eastern Diamondback is more dangerous. I understand the Gaboons are relatively difficult to find in the wild but I assure you, Eastern Diamondbacks are not. They are very widespread and if you know their preferred types of locations, they are super easy to find.
I was half wondering if there would be a “Death Battle” at the end 😁 Glad there wasn’t though.
Don’t worry, this is only a hypothetical battle 😉
Unless it's a Beauty Pageant, I don't see how there is a "battles" as neither snake is a cannibal and their habitat ranges don't overlap.
I think the lance head needs a comparison too!!!
Which species of lancehead? 🙂
Any of the lance head species but I find the golden lance head most intriguing!!
Any of the species will do. But I find the Golden Lance head most intriguing!!
I would love to have heard comment about the Gaboon's backward strike. It is well known but rarely talked about. I don't think the Diamondback can do it. It sounds unimpressive, since most any snake, such as a rattlesnake, can turn its head 180 degrees in an instant and then strike forward, "effectively" striking backward. But I assure you if you have not seen it that it is a magical, horrifying, and extra dangerous capability. They can do it from their favorite lazy S curve position, resulting in a much longer strike to their rear than their forward strike ever is. Zero warning, of course. Just an explosion.
Snake says ill make you calm
We hope that you enjoyed watching this video.
What a camouflage
Besides, I've encountered a rattlesnake in the wild and he let me know exactly where he was. I just gave him a look then walked around. Most rattlesnakes are considerate that way. Not all though
Krait vs Australian Tiger Snake
Why these two? 🙂
@@LivingZoology i like the colours the krait is banded like a Tiger..well no so exactly.. anyway It could be a strange but nice video..than of u have other idea a chinese krait vs..?
@@alvisepasquon5061 The pattern is only slightly similar. We will think about which snake could be in a “battle” with some krait species.
Keep calm
Safari boy knows he better stay far away from the Eastern Diamondback. He's also too complacent with the Gaboon!!!
Both species are capable of delivering a fatal bite, but whether that happens depends on many factors. These include the state of the animal (health, anxiety) and its actual size, the percentage of venom still in its glands before the bite, the geographic location of the bite and time of year (factors that can influence diet and thus venom toxicity), how deep the venom is injected, where on the body the venom is injected, how calm the victim can remain after the bite, the size, health and age of the victim, the sensitivity of the victim to the venom, possible allergic reactions to the venom, the quality and speed of first aid received, the distance that must be traveled to receive professional medical attention, whether the victim is forced to self-transport, how long it takes before professional medical attention is administered as well as the eventual quality thereof, the quality and quantity of the anti-venom available, whether or not the victim is allergic to the anti-venom, and if not, whether enough anti-venom is received. Generally, considering that globally more people die annually of bee stings than of snake bites due to allergic reactions, all venomous snake bites should be taken seriously. Oh, and if you're bitten in the United States and survive, the resulting medical bill may ruin you financially. Some species are considered more dangerous than others because they are more likely to bite, more numerous (faster breeders) than other species and more likely to be attracted to human habitation. Finally, rural and impoverished populations are more likely to die or suffer severe consequences when bitten.
Two of my favorite venomous snakes Eastern Diamondback always ready to strike Gaboon more docile I would think Gaboon is alot deadlier as for venom
Both of these snakes don’t have particularly toxic venom but they inject huge quantities!
❤❤
We hope that you will love this video!
Good video, but why don't you narrate it instead of having us read the subtitles?
Many years ago I kept both species. My Eastern Diamond was over 6ft long; it was the biggest C.adamanteus i've ever seen. I've still it fangs (25mm). I fed the snake with rats and rabbits. Also I remember a Gaboon viper's fang lying on the floor of a terrarium; 33mm length! And it was a "mid-sized" Gaboon. Thank you for this awesome clip!
Both these species have huge fangs! As you say, 33mm is a fang length typical for a mid-sized Gaboon viper 🙂 It is a pity that wild EDBs nowadays don’t grow as large as they used to before they were massively hunted. Thank you for watching!
@@LivingZoology Yes, I agree. It's surely hard to find such big ones today. Unfortunately, there are still shows in the USA where rattlesnakes are killed and skinned in front of an audience! I hate such people! As far I know the longest Crotalus adamanteus measured 258cm without rattle! Crotalus atrox (220cm) & Crotalus basiliscus (210cm) are the other two species reaching 2m. I had 2 C.adamanteus (one was much much smaller) and a C.atrox (Western Diamondback) too. Both species were very easily excited. My Crotalus horridus (Timber Rattlesnake) - pair and my Crotalus scutulatus salvini (Huamantlan Rattler) were the complete opposite. Very very calm creatures! Thanks again for your great footage. Wish you all the best!
@@MrGert1960 It is terrible that rattlesnakes are still being killed in front of an audience in the USA! The longest EDB reliably measured and recorded according to our info was about 2.4 meters long (we mention it in the video). It is cool how some rattlesnakes are so calm and almost don’t rattle at all! Thanks again for watching and all the best to you too!
The Gaboon vipers way deadlier. It’s not even close.
Gaboon Viper ld 50 6.0-5.0 mgkg SC hemotoxins and cytotoxic venom capable of delivering 2400 mg of venom in a single bite with 2 inch fangs Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake ld 50 14.5- 10 mgkg SC hemotoxins capable of delivering 1000 mg of venom in a single bite with 1 inch fangs and a bite force of 150 psi Both snakes can deliver fatal bites if not treated with Salmuso antivenom Kovax Gaboon Viper bites or Crofab North American Pitviper antivenom
Do you know if there have been any documented cases of Gaboon Vipers killing anyone in the wild ? There have been many documented fatal bites from a Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake in the wild. A man who was bitten by his pet Gaboon Viper was given 44 vials of Salmuso antivenom Kovax in Wilmington NC and survived the bite but lost two fingers in the process. A woman in South Florida was bitten while walking in a park and was treated with 58 vials of Crofab antivenom 5 blood transfusions and put on a medical ventilation machine for Anaphylaxis to survive the bite.
Gaboon viper has 2 inch fangs . Gaboon viper wins
Hmm - i hope you stick to your strengths in providing first class animal footage and info and that this title isn‘t foreboding a click-baiting practice. I really don’t see why this should be framed as a „battle“. You got me worried here.
Don't worry, this video is based on our type of footage :) It is, let's say a hypothetical battle or a comparison. Many people want to know which snake is more deadly. We use 5 categories and compare 2 species. It is more a clickbait to those who seek overdramatized snake content and if they start to watch our video we have a chance to show them how peaceful snakes are! You can check previous 3 episodes, they were successful: kzhead.info/sun/aNKsltWqo6Rpo6M/bejne.html
Don't be so soft
Most people would know that they are not actually batting when i saw the title i knew it would be a comparison between the two. So theres no click bait in the title
Cool battle, mate. 😊 P.S. - post something about Mangshan Viper in the closest future, as well. 😉
Hopefully you will love the video! Haha, you are not giving us an easy task! Maybe one day, maybe…visiting China and finding a Mangshan in the wild is not easy!
@@LivingZoology It would be nice, obviously in the next couple of years. 😊