In their description of "B. gabonica", Spawls "et al." (2004) give a total length of 80–130 cm (32.0 to 51.5 in), with a maximum total length of 175 cm (69.3 in), saying the species may possibly grow larger still. They acknowledge reports of specimens over 1.8 m (6 ft), or even over 2 m (6.5 ft) in total length, but claim no evidence supports this. A large specimen of total length, caught in 1973, was found to have weighed with an empty stomach. It is the heaviest venomous snake in Africa.