Nigeria boasts of diverse landscapes, open fields, rural, sub rural and urban environs and climatic conditions, from deserts to rainforest, coastal plains, mangroves, and vast savannah. It is not left out from the list of countries habiting poisonous & dangerous serpents. In this article, I’ll be revealing the top 10 most dangerous snakes in Nigeria. You’ll also get to see the most dangerous snakes in the country.

1. West African Carpet Viper (Very Venomous)


The West African Carpet Viper also known as the Ocellated carpet viper (Echis Ocellatus) is a venomous serpent, endemic to the countries of West Africa is responsible highest number of snakebite-related fatalities in Africa. The carpet viper is found in the Northern parts of Nigeria where it attacks farmers who come to harvest crops. Echis Ocellatus has haemotoxic venom which causes internal bleeding and destroys the circulatory system add death occurs in days.

The West African carpet viper is a very small snake approximately 20 inches in length. Carpet Vipers are typically yellowish-brown in color with dark spots along the side of their bodies. These spots are designed to confuse potential predators.

2. African Rock Python (Very Dangerous)


The Python sebae also called African Rock Python is a very large non-venomous snake native to Nigeria and found across the African continent. Like all pythons, the African Rock python kills its prey by constriction and swallowing them whole. The African Rock Python is one of the 6 largest snake species (Green Anaconda, Reticulated Python, Burmese Python, Indian Python, And Amethystine Python) which are all found in mangrove and rainforest across the world. 

That notwithstanding, the African Rock Python is worshiped/respected in some part of Nigeria, Kenya, and other Sub Saharan Africa Countries, while others see them like wild game and a good source of protein. Although it very rarely kills humans, this snake is usually feared because of its enormous body and strength. Large pythons usually found in Western Africa & India are so big that they "would have no difficulty in eating adult humans." - Wikipedia. 

3. Puff Adder (Very Venomous)


The Bites Arietans commonly known as the Puff Adder is known to be one of Africa's deadliest snake and among the most venomous snakes in the world. Puff Adders hold the highest human fatalities from snakebite in Africa and a few of these fatalities come from Nigeria.
This is a common species of snake in Nigeria but is usually found in populated rural communities.

Puff adders stretch 1-2 meters in length and have a distinctive face and nose. Puff adders use its exceptional camouflage ability for protection and remain still instead of fleeing from predators and danger. Because of this, people are bitten after accidentally stepping on them.

4. Gaboon Viper (Very Venomous)


The Gaboon vipers (Bitis Gabonica) are one of the most dangerous snakes in Nigeria. This snake is popular in the eastern part of Nigerian, also found across East and West Africa where its camouflage ability makes it also invincible and attacks farmers who step too close. Gaboon Vibers are frequently sited in Anambra, Abia, Enugu, and Benue State. Where they have frequent encounters with farmers. The Gaboon Viper lies still on the forest floor where its brown skin blends with dry grass.

The most distinctive features of the Gaboon Viper are the horns slightly above its nose/snort, leaf shape head, fat short body (4 to 6 feet), triangle patterns, and of course long fangs.

5. Boomslang (Mildly Venomous)


Dispholidus Typus commonly known as the Boomslang or “Green Snake in Green Grass” in Nigeria and "tree snake" in Afrikaans, stands as one of the most dangerous snakes in Nigeria and lives very close to humans. The Boomslang is native to sub-Saharan Africa and known as one of the most venomous snakes on the continent. This snake has exceptionally large eyes and measures around 5 - 6 feet.

It lives its holes (in fences or on the floor) and trees where it hunts for lizards, rats, poultry, and other small birds. The males are usually green with black scales and females are brown. 

There are other species of snakes that are not native to Nigeria but smuggled into the country by herbalists, witch doctors, and poachers. Some of these snakes have been allowed to roam freely and free right at home in the country. Here's a list of invasive species of snakes that can be found in the country.

1. Egyptian Cobra (Very Venomous)


The Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) is one of the largest species of venomous snakes in the world, with lengths of around 6-8 feet. It is found in North Africa above the Sahara, and in some parts of West and East Africa. There have also been frequent sightings in Lagos, Ondo, Benin, and the eastern parts of Nigeria.

2. Black-Necked Spitting Cobra (Highly Venomous)


The Black-Necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis) is a highly venomous snake responsible for many human fatalities resulted from snakebite every year in its range from Nigeria to Namibia. It can sometimes come in Yellow, Red, or Browwn color.

3. Mali Cobra (Highly Venomous)


The Mali cobra is found in tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and scrublands from Northern Ghana, to Cameroon, with recorded sightings in Nigeria, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo, Southwestern Niger, and Senegal. 

4. Horned Adder (Super Venomous)


Horned adders are believed to have been smuggled into the county and have been branded an invasive species. They are usually sited in the Northern parts of the country in vegetated deserts and farms. This species of vipers are also found in arid regions of southwest Africa with include Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Mali, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. 

5. Jameson's Mamba (Highly Venomous)


The Jameson's mamba is found in deforested areas, rainforests, woodland, forest-savanna, and rural communities close to forests throughout Central, West, and East Africa.
Jameson's mamba is a common and widespread snake, especially in West Africa. In Nigeria, it is popular in the Eastern parts of the nation where some know it as the sleeping tree snake. It is often found around buildings, parks, farmlands, and plantations.

Snakes may be one of the most dangerous animals on Earth but they also play a very important role for the planet, pests control. Snakes whether viper, pythons, or cobras are the bost effective rat killers on the planet. Snakes kill more rats than humans and birds combined. If there was a sudden drop is the snake population, then the rat population would thrive.

Note: A rat can give birth to over 1,200 babies in a year

If you see a snake in your house, do not try to catch or kill the snake. Walk away from it slowly and keep an eye on it from a safe distance (several meters away). Keep your pets safely away from it and the snake will usually move on in its own time, they know the area is not safe enough and will leave immediately. Snake prefers to use their venom on prey rather than predators. They usually hiss and alert you of their presence before they attack.

If you don't want snake coming into your house, keep your surrounding clean, trim all overgrown grass, close all holes and hiding place for both rats and snake, try to dispose of anything that would attract lizards, rats, or birds to your surrounding, and try fumigating your home at least once in two months. This procedure will automatically drive out all pests, vermins, germs, and snakes from your area.

You know what to do now when you sight a snake right? Oya Lala do the needful

Source: https://informationngr.com/10-most-dangerous-snakes-in-nigeria/

Lala Ahahah your food is ready
The only problem is that these snakes were not caught or killed. But still at the mention of snake Lala must come push the thread to fp

La Ila ilala lalasticlala