Atheris chlorechis

Atheris chlorechis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Atheris
Species: A. chlorechis
Binomial name
Atheris chlorechis
(Pel, 1851)
Synonyms
  • Vipera chlorechis - Pel, 1851
  • Vipera chloroechis - Schlegel, 1855
  • Vipera (Echis) chloroechis - Jan, 1859
  • Tox[icoa]. chloroëchis - Cope, 1860
  • Vipera chloroechis - Cope, 1862
  • E[chis]. chlorechis - Jan, 1863
  • Atheris polylepis - Peters, 1864
  • Atheris chloroëchis - Peters, 1864
  • Atheris proximus - Rochebrune, 1885
  • Atheris chlorechis - Boulenger, 1896
  • Atheris chloraechis - Cansdale, 1981
  • Atheris chlorechis - Broadley, 1996[1]
Common names: western bush viper,[2] West African leaf viper,[3] more.

Atheris chlorechis is a venomous viper species found only in the forests of West Africa.[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]

Contents

Description

Adults average 50 cm in length with a maximum of 70 cm. The tail is relatively long. The body is relatively slender, with 25-36 mid-body rows of dorsal scales. These are heavily keeled, with the keels ending in a swelling at the end of each scale.[2]

Adults have a uniform light green groundcolor, overlaid with a series of faint yellow, roughly paired spots running dorsally along the length of the body and about 2.5 cm apart. The belly is pale green in color.[2] Newborns are tan-brown in color, but this changes to a yellow-green hue with irregular dark spots within 24 hours.[5] This second color phase has been described as the reverse of that of the adults and is only seen in individuals less than 25 cm in length.[2][5]

Common names

Western bush viper,[2] West African leaf viper,[3] West African tree viper.[6]

Geographic range

West Africa including Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, isolated locations in Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The type locality is listed as "Boutre, Ghana."[1]

Habitat

Found in forests, in dense foliage about 1–2 m above the ground.[2]

Feeding

Said to feed on rodents, lizards and tree frogs.[2]

Reproduction

Gives birth to 6-9 young in March to April. Newborns are 131–151 mm in length.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
  3. ^ a b Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  4. ^ "Atheris chlorechis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634943. Retrieved 23 August 2006. 
  5. ^ a b c Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  6. ^ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.

Further reading

  • Cansdale GS. 1961. West African Snakes. London: Longman's. 75 pp.

External links