In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a tree viper rapidly swallows its forked tongue, probing its surroundings. Once bitten by this arboreal snake living in tropical Africa, patients will experience symptoms such as kidney failure, internal and external bleeding, and even lead to anemia and, in severe cases, death.
Photography, written by THOMAS NICOLON
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a forest cobra inflates its neck muscles and maintains a defensive posture. Africa is home to about 20 species of cobras, and this large snake is well adapted to habitats influenced by humans, including fruit plantations and suburban communities. Cobra venom blocks nerve signals, causing patients to stop breathing and die. Photograph by THOMAS NICOLON
A well-camouflaged Gabonese viper huddled in a forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Gabon Viper is an ambush-type predator that can remain stationary for hours and may attack any animal that tramples on itself. The venom of the Gabon viper prevents blood from clotting and breaks down tissues. Surviving victims may need amputations. Photograph by THOMAS NICOLON
The venom of vipers (including the bulging viper and sawfish) kills more people in Africa than any other snake, and its venom destroys red blood cells, triggering inflammation, bleeding and tissue necrosis. Pictured: The rhinoceros-horned viper inhabits the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and takes its name from the giant scales on its nose that look like the horns of a rhinoceros. These snakes are nocturnal, slow-moving, and difficult to spot in fallen leaves. Photograph by THOMAS NICOLON
The Eastern Green Mamba is one of four deadly African mambas that live along the southern coast of East Africa. The Eastern Green Mamba is an arboreal snake that is agile. The mamba snake avoids humans as much as possible, but once attacked, it releases a neurotic venom that acts quickly, causing the patient to fail to breathe and eventually suffocate to death. Photograph by THOMAS NICOLON
The venom of cobras, including mambas, can kill people within hours. Pictured: A bulging-bellied viper basking in the sun on a warm rock in western Guinea warns potential invaders by inflating its body and hissing. Spread across Africa, the drum-bellied viper is one of the five deadliest species of snakes on the continent, and its venom destroys living tissue. Photograph by THOMAS NICOLON