This is a hairy bush viper. It is also known as a spiny bush viper. It lives in Central and East Africa, in tropical rainforests.

The hairy bush viper is known for its rough scales that give it a prickly appearance.

Hairy bush vipers primarily eat small mammals, lizards, frogs, and sometimes birds.

The spiny bush viper relies on camouflage to blend into its surroundings, waiting for prey to come close.

Once prey is within striking distance, it quickly lunges forward to deliver a venomous bite. The venom immobilizes prey, allowing the viper to consume it safely.

The viper can go long periods without food, allowing it to survive between hunts.

Compared to the 20-foot-long reticulated python, this snake is quite small. The fully grown adult hairy bush viper will grow to a length of about 24-36 inches (2-3 feet). The females tend to be slimmer and a few inches longer. However, this doesn't mean they aren't dangerous.

Hairy bush vipers are highly venomous, and their venom can be fatal to humans if it is not treated promptly.

There is no antivenom to counteract the venomous bite of the bush viper, so it is VERY dangerous!

Although the hairy bush viper is usually olive green, it can have other colors of red, orange, gray, yellow, black, blue, and brown.

Spiny bush vipers are nocturnal creatures, spending the daytime basking on top of flowers in small trees about 10 feet off the ground. They may also climb reeds and stalks, but they prefer the terminal leaves and flowers of smaller trees.

The spiny bush viper has specialized pits near its eyes that detect infrared radiation, allowing it to sense heat from prey.

They possess binocular vision, which aids in depth perception when striking at prey.