Bitis nasicornis is considered to be one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa.
Small doses of the snake's primarily hemotoxic venom can be deadly.
This is unlike the Gaboon viper, the largest of the vipers, which uses a considerably larger amount of venom.
 Bitis nasicornis has both neurotoxic, as well as hemotoxic venom, as do most other venomous snakes.
The hemotoxic venom in rhinoceros vipers is much more dominant.
This venom attacks the circulatory system of the snake's victim, destroying tissue and blood vessels.
Internal bleeding also occurs.
When not in use, the rhino viper's fangs are folded up into the roof of the snake's mouth.
The snake has the ability to control the movement of its fangs.
Simply because the rhino viper may open its mouth does not mean that the fangs will flip down into place.
These fangs penetrate deep into the victim and the small doses of venom flow through the hollow fangs into the wound.

Because of its restricted geographic range, few bites have been reported.
No statistics are available.

Relatively little is known about the toxicity and composition of the venom.
In mice, the intravenous LD₅₀ is 1.1 mg/kg.
The venom is supposedly slightly less toxic than those of B. arietans and B. gabonica.
The maximum wet venom yield is 200 mg.
One study reported this venom has the highest intramuscular LD₅₀ value—8.6 mg/kg—of five different viperid venoms tested (B. arietans, B. gabonica, B. nasicornis, Daboia russelii and Vipera aspis).
Another showed little variation in the venom potency of these snakes, whether they were milked once every two days or once every three weeks.
In rabbits, the venom is apparently slightly more toxic than that of B. gabonica.

In only a few detailed reports of human envenomation, massive swelling, which may lead to necrosis, had been described.
In 2003, a man in Dayton, Ohio, who was keeping a specimen as a pet, was bitten and subsequently died.
At least one antivenom protects specifically against bites from this species: India Antiserum Africa Polyvalent.
Bitis nasicornis is considered to be one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa. Small doses of the snake's primarily hemotoxic venom can be deadly. This is unlike the Gaboon viper, the largest of the vipers, which uses a considerably larger amount of venom.  Bitis nasicornis has both neurotoxic, as well as hemotoxic venom, as do most other venomous snakes. The hemotoxic venom in rhinoceros vipers is much more dominant. This venom attacks the circulatory system of the snake's victim, destroying tissue and blood vessels. Internal bleeding also occurs. When not in use, the rhino viper's fangs are folded up into the roof of the snake's mouth. The snake has the ability to control the movement of its fangs. Simply because the rhino viper may open its mouth does not mean that the fangs will flip down into place. These fangs penetrate deep into the victim and the small doses of venom flow through the hollow fangs into the wound.
Because of its restricted geographic range, few bites have been reported. No statistics are available.
Relatively little is known about the toxicity and composition of the venom. In mice, the intravenous LD₅₀ is 1.1 mg/kg. The venom is supposedly slightly less toxic than those of B. arietans and B. gabonica. The maximum wet venom yield is 200 mg. One study reported this venom has the highest intramuscular LD₅₀ value—8.6 mg/kg—of five different viperid venoms tested (B. arietans, B. gabonica, B. nasicornis, Daboia russelii and Vipera aspis). Another showed little variation in the venom potency of these snakes, whether they were milked once every two days or once every three weeks. In rabbits, the venom is apparently slightly more toxic than that of B. gabonica.
In only a few detailed reports of human envenomation, massive swelling, which may lead to necrosis, had been described. In 2003, a man in Dayton, Ohio, who was keeping a specimen as a pet, was bitten and subsequently died. At least one antivenom protects specifically against bites from this species: India Antiserum Africa Polyvalent.
Bitis nasicornis