Freaky Facts and Features of Creepy Crawly Creatures of the Rainforest

Eyelash Viper

Habitat

The eyelash viper lives in the tropical Americas; Southern Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Equador and Western Venezuela.

They like wet forests with low elevation; shrubs, brushes, vine tangles, trees and palms usually close to a water source.

Physical Characteristics

The eyelash viper is 18-30 inches in length. The coloration can be reddish-yellow, yellow, grayish-brown or green. The yellow color can be spotted with white, black or red; the darker colors can be spotted with black or red. It's distinguishing feature is the supraciliarie, or enlarged scale, above each eye, giving the appearance of eyelashes.

Diet

Carnivore, eating mostly small mammals, lizards, frogs and birds. These snakes can go for up to year without eating.

Special Adaptations

While catching and eating food, this snake can hold onto a branch with its tail and can hang completely suspended in midair while eating his entire meal. The coloration of this viper helps to camouflage it while it hides in the midst of flowers. It hides there to strike at the birds it likes to eat. It is hard to distinguish its head from the surrounding foliage.

The viper life expectancy can exceed 16 years in captivity. The female has multiple live births -- usually 12 or more babies are born.

Gaboon Viper

Habitat

The Gaboon Viper lives on the rain forest floor in the equatorial belt of Tropical Africa. Its markings help camouflage it amongst the leaves and spotted sunshine of the rain forest floor.

Physical Characteristics  

Gaboon Vipers can reach an average length of 1.2 meters, but they have been found as long 2.2 meters. These animals will weigh about 7 to 10 kg. Their head approximately 125 mm (inches) big and fangs almost 55 mm (2 inches). This gives it the longest fangs of any snake in the world.