The West African gaboon viper has the longest fangs of any snake. In a 6ft (1.83m) long specimen they measured 2in (50mm). Snakes don’t blink as they have transparent eyelids that are fused shut.

"Humans had to deal with poisonous snakes, avoid large cats ... typical of humid West African rainforests. Ancient pollen, silicified plant remains known as phytoliths, and leaf wax isotopes ...