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Atheris rungweensis
Species of venomous snake From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Atheris rungweensis, commonly known as the Rungwe tree viper,[4][5] Mt Rungwe bush viper,[3] and Rungwe leaf viper,[6] is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to East Africa.[3][4]
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Taxonomy and etymology
The specific name rungweensis is derived from the species' type locality in the Rungwe Mountains.[2] A. rungweensis was formerly considered as a subspecies of Atheris nitschei.[3][7]
Description
A. rungweensis grows to a maximum total length (tail included) of 65 cm (26 in). At midbody, it has 22–33 dorsal scale rows. The ventral scales number 150–165, and the subcaudals 46–58.[5]
The color pattern is variable, with a ground color that ranges from bright green to green to black. Usually, this is overlaid with a pair of yellow dorsolateral zigzag lines. A row of yellow spots on the sides of the ventral scales may also be present. Specimens from the Sumbawanga region usually have a green, yellow, and black color pattern. Neonates are a dark brown or gray, but with a bright yellow tail tip.[7]
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Distribution and habitat
A. rungweensis is known from scattered locations from south-western Tanzania to north-eastern Zambia and south to the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi.[4]
A. rungweensis is usually found in low bushes along streams and at the edges of mountain forests at altitudes of 800–2,000 m (2,600–6,600 ft).[5][8] Occasionally, it is encountered in moist savanna, woodland, and hill forest habitats.[7]
Behavior
Reproduction
A. rungweensis is ovoviviparous.[3]
References
Further reading
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