top 200 commentsshow all 322

[–]xBlackbiird[S] 194 points195 points ago

Here is the photographer, with many more photos of this beautiful creature. Like this, and this.

[–]pandatamer 53 points54 points ago

Since mr. quality enforcer hasn't posted yet. Here are 1920x1080 wallpaper images I found: 1 2

[–]peewo 6 points7 points ago

thanks, they look great!

[–]JorusC 2 points3 points ago

A lovely new wallpaper for me. Thanks dude! This is one of the most beautiful creatures I've seen!

[–]i_shirt_u_not 1 point2 points ago

Thanks mate. High res is always very appreciated.

[–]andreas940 0 points1 point ago

I wish there were some without photoshop.

[–]myupandupaccount 0 points1 point ago

also a 1920x1200 here

[–]mttdesignz 0 points1 point ago

[–]m0nkeybl1tz 57 points58 points ago

For real? Hairy bush viper?

[–]PurpleWavesOfSound 147 points148 points ago

Cool, same name as my dick

[–]a_wandering_man 8 points9 points ago

Got video for this?

[–]TheInsaneDane 7 points8 points ago

Sorry no. I found it in a reaction gif imgur album.

[–]a_wandering_man 3 points4 points ago

No worries, just curious as to what was said to Shaq.

[–]TheInsaneDane 20 points21 points ago

Dude, i found it for you. It's fucking hilarious actually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w76qdl8f0U

[–]a_wandering_man 10 points11 points ago

Haha, it is fucking hilarious, thanks man! I can't believe a reporter asked him that though!

[–]discoinmypants 7 points8 points ago

They're friends and joke around all the time when Shaq is in town.

[–]iran_sofaraway 6 points7 points ago

Oh yes, Dr. O'Neal is a clever one. That's right- Doctor. Apparently he received a PhD in Leadership and Education with a specialization in Human Resource Development from Barry University in 2012.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/shaquille-o-neal-earns-phd-inspires-nba-fans-164100621--nba.html

[–]ResidentObama 23 points24 points ago

SNAKE FACTS: The original post is of Atheris hispida (a viper that lives in African reeds/wet forests and probably eats a lot of leeches - the scales may even help avoid leech bites), whereas the first of latter two posted is Atheris squamigera. A beautiful genus, but as far as I am aware there is no antivenom.

[–]alllie 2 points3 points ago

I was wondering. Cause all the elevated scales look like they would catch and hold filth and no way a snake can clean himself. So maladaptive, I thought. So there needs to be a good reason for them.

[–]ResidentObama 18 points19 points ago

Snakes don't really actively clean themselves, but they do shed their skin periodically, which does the same job. This one lives above the ground most of the time, so probably doesn't come into contact with too much dirt. Another possibility is that the raised scales break up the outline, making it harder for predators to spot.

[–]alllie 4 points5 points ago

But then why aren't the raised scales common in other snakes as well? If it's an adaptive trait?

[–]ResidentObama 19 points20 points ago

It hinders movement, so could only occur in highly sedentary species such as some vipers. And some other sedentary vipers do have rough scalation, such as the Rhino Viper. http://www.latoxan.com/VENOM/SNAKE/IMG/Bitis-nasicornis(4).jpg

Other snakes also break up their outline with nasal appendages, such as Langahas: http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8421/7800989452_27044d5c29.jpg

[–]JorusC 7 points8 points ago

I've never seen a Langaha before. That's the goofiest looking snake I've ever seen. Thanks for teaching me something new and hilarious.

[–]Wrym 2 points3 points ago

That's the goofiest looking snake

I think it nose.

[–]Lady_Bug_Love 1 point2 points ago

Thank you for your informative comments, and the pictures to back it up. Very nicely done and well appreciated.

[–]AlexGHooper 18 points19 points ago

We broke the links, see Reddit, this is why we can't have nice things.

[–]Felekin 4 points5 points ago

And i was excited as well :(

[–]TenGHz 8 points9 points ago

Reddit's DDoS of love.

[–]robodale 3 points4 points ago

We will love him, pet him, and name him George.

[–]GigglesMJ 5 points6 points ago

Quite handsome snakes those are.

[–]socraptes 2 points3 points ago

This is where you get more high-res pictures. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/snakes-download-theme

[–]kevinbobevin 7 points8 points ago

How has this not become a pokemon yet? It looks like leaves, and even has different seasonal colors. Jesus.

[–]Butter_Man 6 points7 points ago

i bet it knows razor leaf

[–]baggyrabbit 1 point2 points ago

Looks like we crashed his website...

[–]ExdigguserPies 1 point2 points ago

[–]threeoneoh 0 points1 point ago

Reminds me of Viva Piñata

[–]django_xl 0 points1 point ago

Not beautiful at all, it sends shivers through my spine. This is dead staring right into the camera!

[–]ruertar 113 points114 points ago

It is easy to see how scales became feathers.

[–]Felekin 42 points43 points ago

In the future, flying snakes.

edit: aww nuts. Nature, you scary.

[–]patrik667 36 points37 points ago

[–]Genmaken 23 points24 points ago

This must be how they got on the plane!

[–]Zebidee 5 points6 points ago

Nah, it was more like this.

[–]RoJo_sonof_DoJo 2 points3 points ago

NOPE

[–]xanderpo 1 point2 points ago

Here's to never sleeping again!

[–]furrylittlebeast -1 points0 points ago

NOPE. Never going outside again.

[–]Newb_since_1989 1 point2 points ago

While I was in Borneo a young specimen of those was startled by something and jumped in the river, after, it tried to get in our boat because the river was kind of fast. It tried desperately to climb the side of the small boat and I wanted to help it but everyone else in the boat told me to let it go.. :(

[–]love-from-london 12 points13 points ago

Quetzalcoatl would like a word.

[–]magugas 2 points3 points ago

First thing I thought. Really cool.

[–]procastinationdesign 20 points21 points ago

Procastinating graphic designer calling in.

I removed all the annoying dust speckles. That was a dusty ass of a motherfucking snake.

[–]Embrocate 7 points8 points ago

Thanks bro, nobody likes a dusty snake.

[–]kungura 10 points11 points ago

DAT depth of field

[–]ArabRedditor 1 point2 points ago

Perfect resolutions.

[–]Kingcotton7 1 point2 points ago

Must be autumn where he is

[–]Hedgehog_Hegemon 120 points121 points ago

[–]Bootleg_Fireworks 52 points53 points ago

For people who haven't watched Iron Man 2, he was actually referring to this.
Would take both.
Edit: fixed link

[–]Kautsch 18 points19 points ago

Just use imgur, man.

[–]Theemuts 9 points10 points ago

http://i.imgur.com/Jjq8R.jpg

Here ya go. Now give me back the 10 seconds of my life I have wasted on your laziness.

[–]PeterMus 28 points29 points ago

Woah, it's scales are little leaves!

[–]Only151Pokemon 1 point2 points ago

[–]Bnthefuck 9 points10 points ago

simply beautiful.

[–]captainbenis 9 points10 points ago

Wow! Pretty snake.

[–]captainbenis 7 points8 points ago

Gonna smash anyone who replies 'NOPE'.

[–]TheInsaneDane 7 points8 points ago

How does a snake evolve to look like that? I mean, how does the snake body know what a leaf looks like so it can evolve into looking like a leaf? Does anybody know this?

[–]everfalling 22 points23 points ago

how does the snake body know what a leaf looks like so it can evolve into looking like a leaf?

assuming the scales are supposed to be mimicking a leaf: it doesn't. Evolution is a mindless process. It has no goals to work toward. If an animal has skin or scales that help it blend in with its environment slightly better than another of its kind then it's more likely to survive and pass on its genes. Repeat this millions of times and you find the skin or scales will get closer and closer to looking like the thing that allows it to hide better. So evolution doesn't know how to do anything but it's very much guided by environmental forces.

[–]TheInsaneDane 6 points7 points ago

Thanks man. Great answer.

[–]novaya3 0 points1 point ago

I saw a documentary when I was younger which featured a leaf fish. I can't remember what it was actually called, but it was this fish which lived off the coast of the rainforest. It looked exactly like a tatty old leaf, and it would wait for leaves to blow off the mainland and into the water, and then float around in an errant, well, leaf-like fashion to camoflauge itself.

I loved the look of this fish, but it got me thinking - This fish didn't say "I think one day, 10 million years down the track, I will look like a leaf, and that will be a good strategy". Before the evolutionary process started, it wouldn't have looked at all like a leaf, so following real leaves around would have been ineffectual. At the same time, there would have been millions of years where it didn't look much like anything. At what point along the fish-leaf continuum did it start to move like a leaf, for instance?

I've never been one for big bearded guys in the sky, but sometimes I find it hard to believe there isn't some sort of design at work when I look at animals like these.

TL;DR: I have no idea about your question

[–]TheInsaneDane 0 points1 point ago

It's really hard for me to comprehend that stuff like this isn't affected by anything.

Can you remember what documentary it was?

[–]wankmate 18 points19 points ago

What is the biological advantage to the scales being spiny, as opposed to normal snake scales?

[–]CrunchyRaddish 65 points66 points ago

Looks like leaves. I'm no snake expert.

[–]r0Lf 37 points38 points ago

Also, if you put it in your butt hole you are going to have really hard time taking it out.

[–]electric_rattlesnake 14 points15 points ago

Because that is its most obvious purpose.

[–]squatly 10 points11 points ago

You would know, electric_rattlensake. You would know.

[–]electric_rattlesnake 3 points4 points ago

Shit, you got me.

[–]redpandaeater 2 points3 points ago

See, I'd have never thought of inserting one head first. I always thought ass-to-ass was how these things went down, and the spines are there to prevent it.

[–]InvertedEight 2 points3 points ago

Well, shit.

[–]Forensicunit 7 points8 points ago

I agree with both statements.

[–]PoniesRBitchin 4 points5 points ago

Camouflage. Despite it being a deadly snake, most snakes just want to spend their time relaxing undisturbed in some pile of leaves. That's why, for example, a rattlesnake rattles at you to warn you that it's around instead of just biting your face. It's like "look man, I don't want any trouble, just walk away." So if this snake can just look like leaves, no birds can sneak up on it.

[–]riseofazrael 6 points7 points ago

Snakes get a bad reputation because some of them are poisonous and kill people, and also because the Bible kind of portrays them as a representation of all things evil if you're into that sort of stuff. However, I think snakes are amazing creatures that often have their beauty overlooked.

[–]life_failure 4 points5 points ago

As a biology/theology double major, I want to contribute something to this conversation!

  1. Snakes appear more than once in the Bible. One such instance, in Numbers, God uses snakes as a means of his wrath. I realize that's not a much happier representation, but thats not the end of the story. The Israelites are murmuring against God, like they do every couple of months since he rescued them from bondage, and God has gotten a little tired of it. So, he sends snakes amongst the people and whoever they bite, eventually, dies. Well, as always, Moses goes to God and begs for mercy, apologizes for the Israelites and promises they will be better. God shows mercy and instructs Moses to build a Golden serpent and to place it on the top of a staff. Moses does and shows it to the people and anyone who looks upon the Serpent is cured. (We are gonna skip over the fact that within weeks the Israelites begin to worship the Serpent and so it has to be placed in the Arc with the 10 commandments lol) So, in this story, snakes not only represent the will of God but the mercy of God as well. Its not a cut and dry issue with biblical imagery.

  2. This is super minor and not many people would care... But, snakes are venomous, not poisonous. Poisonous implies that you ate it. Poison is ingested, venom is injected. Just, FYI, not a huge deal.

So, thats what I have to offer :) Have a good day.

[–]MrBoog 4 points5 points ago

That's the most gorgeous snake I've ever seen. And that's not a sentence I ever thought I'd utter.

[–]Electroverted 4 points5 points ago

Cute, is it a friendly snake?

[–]TheRealMindGamez 6 points7 points ago

To a female snake.

[–]whyoulittle 18 points19 points ago

so he can slytherin...

[–]9ren 3 points4 points ago

Ah, atheris hispida, not from Australia.

[–]Swampfyr 4 points5 points ago

My current wallpaper.

If that isn't Baader-Meinhof (sp?), I don't know what is.

[–]DWimaDerpologist 1 point2 points ago

The scales look like little upside down surfboards

[–]LooksLikeNicolasCage 3 points4 points ago

I am now convinced snakes were once dragons.

[–]boethius27 2 points3 points ago

All of Reddit right now: Trust In Me

[–]daysofdre 2 points3 points ago

the scales look like perfect leaves... if i was a woodland creature i'd be fubared... how are you supposed to be able to see something like this in the woods?

[–]fwugaman 5 points6 points ago

The color scheme and the fact it's a reptile reminded me of this Viper http://www.dota2wiki.com/images/9/99/Viper.png

[–]PixieCrusher 8 points9 points ago

ehh, I guess.

[–]The_Blackening 8 points9 points ago

Shut up he made a gaming reference on reddit.

[–]gatonekko 3 points4 points ago

Now imagine this little bugger 20 meters high and with a wicked appetite for human flesh.

[–]BikerMouseFromMars 5 points6 points ago

yip, that was my first thought too. But i bet it would live in Australia, so i would be fine :D

[–]ninjeff 8 points9 points ago

We don't have big land animals in Australia. They're all tiny and deadlier than an African elephant.

[–]Renegade917 13 points14 points ago

Don't let their size fool you; African elephants are extremely venomous.

...Oh, no, wait, that's the African rhino. Sorry. Carry on.

Edit: Source: I live in Lousiana. We have creationist biology textbooks. We kinda just get to make up things about animals and write them in there so long as we say "It's God's design." or something along those lines. My best friend was able to write "Chocolate pudding is the semen of the devil." It was an eventful semester.

[–]BF3ENG 0 points1 point ago

That thing looks menacing as fuck...Sweet dreams.

[–]Renegade917 2 points3 points ago

I will sleep soundly as balls in a banana hammock, man. This reptile isn't scary, it's cool as fuuuuck. It and I would probably be buddies.

[–]rchrdp305 1 point2 points ago

intense looking

[–]TheeJoCanadian 0 points1 point ago

Absolutely gorgeous, but heaven help you if it decides to bite you.

[–]Renegade917 4 points5 points ago

Well, to be fair, I've never really thought "Ooh, I hope this bites me!" when it comes to ANY animal.

[–]ZepRock 0 points1 point ago

That snake is just so badass!

[–]__username 0 points1 point ago

Sounds like a band & song title

[–]Smurphentine 0 points1 point ago

What if he has to back out of something he slithers into?

[–]Renegade917 2 points3 points ago

He quietly hisses the word "Fuck" for about an hour.

[–]ProsithiusErvingMott -1 points0 points ago

His mother was a dragon and his father was earthworm Jim.

[–]ayvzeeoen -1 points0 points ago

I got a mesmerizing bush viper in my pants if ya know what I mean ;)

[–]Da_maximus 1 point2 points ago

Evolution as fuck

[–]strik3r2k8 -1 points0 points ago

"I ain't gonna start the War On Terror, I am Terror"..

[–]Jakeinspace 1 point2 points ago

So, you wanna talk about mesmerizing scales?

[–]AgentSplurge 0 points1 point ago

"Now with built in leaves!"

[–]Lecides -1 points0 points ago

Just wow

[–]topheric 0 points1 point ago

Such a beautiful creature.

[–]toomanyghosts 1 point2 points ago

Natural Selection is a wonderful thing.

[–]mc_4492 -1 points0 points ago

The hell are those leafs doing?

[–]Rubci 1 point2 points ago

Evolution is awesome.

[–]elliot81 0 points1 point ago

Anyone got a 1920 x 1080 version of this? Would make a great wallpaper!

[–]NoNamesWereAvailable -1 points0 points ago

Thank you evolution! I would have never imagined a feathered snake.

[–]farticus_maximus 1 point2 points ago

If that snake ever went in reverse I bet it would be really sore. REALLY sore.

[–]Lojach 0 points1 point ago

The scales look like leaves

[–]vogelmusic 0 points1 point ago

Prey: "Those are some pretty leaves oh fuck I'm dead."

[–]wickys 0 points1 point ago

That could make a nice chainmail vest.

[–]GameboyGenius 0 points1 point ago

Wallpaper'd!

[–]Muckle930 0 points1 point ago

I have a new favorite animal it seems, even its eye is really beautiful.

[–]deadbirdsoup 1 point2 points ago

Read this as memorizing scales.

[–]MrPanda22 0 points1 point ago

Damn I bet he blends in with the leaves really good.

[–]pyalot -1 points0 points ago

We could make you brilliant green and black and give you skin looking like tiny leaves in the wind and a face frozen in a permanent awesome stare. You would be so beautiful James Cameron would make every movie about stuff looking like you. Or we could just make you look like an oversized mole-rat.

P.S. Fuck you humans. Signed: Nature. Source: Nature

[–]Awsx -1 points0 points ago

wow, Amazing!! + 10 points

[–]jepazo -1 points0 points ago

If that thing doesnt evolve to a dragon, i'm going to be very dissapointed.

[–]iluvredditalot 0 points1 point ago

Deathly beauty

[–]slothtopus -1 points0 points ago

can we have them as pets?

[–]Sc0rian 0 points1 point ago

I use pulse , which talks to www.wallbase.cc and changes background/logon screen. This popped up a month ago as a background picture.

[–]Stratocaster89 -1 points0 points ago

How the fuck does evolution manage to mimic nature so perfectly. That's incredible

[–]jo3ly 0 points1 point ago

Those leaves look like a snake!

[–]noone1569 1 point2 points ago

Nature is fucking amazing.

[–]xsarahwhitex -1 points0 points ago

My G-mom would shit her pants at that shit.

[–]PhoneCar 0 points1 point ago

DX11 at work. Just look at that tessellation!

[–]cbfw86 1 point2 points ago

10/10 would bang

[–]NotATinDog 0 points1 point ago

This is one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

[–]insane66666 0 points1 point ago

Did someone just discover the online windows theme repository?

[–]Hiddenblade98 0 points1 point ago

Looks like somebody glued leaves to a snake

[–]liminix 0 points1 point ago

Snakes are just misunderstood!

[–]jmart1375 -1 points0 points ago

I read that if you get bit by one of these snakes that 60% of the time, you die every time.

[–]Cheesyburps 0 points1 point ago

"On my way, to a one bite kill!"

[–]fibreoptik 0 points1 point ago

Wingless dragons! :D

[–]kmcbride 0 points1 point ago

I have this Windows theme package as well.

[–]GlasVegas 0 points1 point ago

I SO wanted this to be a creepy GIF!

[–]iLuVtiffany 0 points1 point ago

I have the urge to touch it.

[–]Elusive_Yeti 0 points1 point ago

Can we get an iPhone 4 & 5 wallpaper?

[–]alexbull_uk 1 point2 points ago

That's a beautiful snake.

[–]itsthematrixdood 1 point2 points ago

This Is a truly beautiful creature.

[–]ColossalJuggernaut 0 points1 point ago

His scales look like leaves. What a trick fellow.

[–]moonra_zk 1 point2 points ago

Mesmerizing scales? What about the eye!?

[–]pipi55 0 points1 point ago

Maximum armor!

[–]MrScarecrow 0 points1 point ago

WOW. Eragon 'nough said.

[–]IamRider 0 points1 point ago

I see where DotA 2 got their inspiration from for Viper

[–]thisismyname11 0 points1 point ago

I hate snakes. I'm really afraid of them too, But this snake is beautiful :)

[–]HiddenRonin 1 point2 points ago

Snakes scare the living shit out of me, but this is one of the most beautiful creatures I've ever seen.

[–]toasterlovin 1 point2 points ago

Im taking these snakes... for future... dragon making.

[–]deus_ex_machina69 0 points1 point ago

Its a thin line between scales and feathers.

[–]Wallpaper_Guy 0 points1 point ago

Thanks for the wallpaper!

[–]Xysten 0 points1 point ago

I hope it doesn't have to backup any time soon.

[–]Cumberlandspaceman 0 points1 point ago

It's kinda sad that something that beautiful can kill. I guess that's the beauty of nature.

[–]Citalun 1 point2 points ago

Wow, it truly is mesmerizing!

[–]CaciqueBoss 0 points1 point ago

where can i buy this snake?

[–]TracyMorganFreeman 1 point2 points ago

Forget the scales, look at dem peepers.

[–]fatmoocow 0 points1 point ago

NOPE!

[–]Derplight 0 points1 point ago

the scales look like basil leaves! snake soup anyone?

[–]DecryptedGaming -1 points0 points ago

(:<

[–]EclecticEelVoltage 1 point2 points ago

This snake is one of the snakes in the Windows 7/8 theme packs. I have him as my background right now! Love it.

[–]FuckingOF 0 points1 point ago

It's like the evolved, modern day dragon!

[–]RainbowGoddamnDash 0 points1 point ago

I gotta stop going to /r/guitar and /r/guitarlessons, I automatically thought it was a lesson about guitar scales til I looked at the picture.

[–]Bernardozila 0 points1 point ago

Deadly beauty.

[–]blobber109 0 points1 point ago

How poisonous and can I have one?

[–]bcfolz 0 points1 point ago

that's some Viva pinata shit right there

[–]teasnorter 0 points1 point ago

That's one thing you definitely do not want call up your ass.

[–]-JdotK- 0 points1 point ago

Hey, those scales look just lives leaves!

[–]Elchidote 0 points1 point ago

Dat stare...

[–]eXo5 0 points1 point ago

Dat scales...

[–]sherlocktheholmes 0 points1 point ago

Does this snake shed its skin like other snakes? Would it all come off in more or less one piece, or smaller flakes?

[–]gsettle 0 points1 point ago

Stunning!

[–]cesiumtea 0 points1 point ago

Started looking up pictures of the Atheris genus (turns out they all look like tiny dragons), found this guy. ಠ_ಠ

[–]keezyf 0 points1 point ago

Dat evolution.

[–]AnnunakiZ 0 points1 point ago

awww

[–]toteus 0 points1 point ago

nice. the scales almost look like plumage

[–]Madame_Croquette 0 points1 point ago

So cool!!