Atheris katangensis

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Atheris katangensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Atheris
Species: A. katangensis
Binomial name
Atheris katangensis
Witte, 1953
Synonyms
  • Atheris katangensis - Witte, 1553[1]

Common names: Shaba bush viper, [2][3] Katanga Mountain bush viper,[4] Upemba bush viper,[5] more.  
 
Atheris katangensis is a venomous viper species endemic to DR Congo. Found only in a limited area in the east of the country.[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[6]

Description

Attains a maximum length of only 40 cm, making this the smallest member of the genus Atheris.[2]

The head is flat, triangular, distinct from the neck and covered with small keeled scales. The snout is rounded. Midbody there are 24-31 rows of dorsal scales. The tail is short. Males and females have 45-59 and 38-42 subcaudal scales respectively.[2]

The color pattern consists of a purple-brown or yellow-brown ground color, overlaid with paired dorsolateral lines of a contrasting shade. These lines may break into a zigzag pattern and run from head to tail. The belly is yellowish, as it the tip of the tail.[2]

Common names

Shaba bush viper, [2][3] Katanga Mountain bush viper,[4] Upemba bush viper, Katanga bush viper.[5]

Geographic range

Restricted to Upemba National Park, Shaba Province in eastern DR Congo. The type locality given is "Mubale-Munte (région du confluent), sous-affluent st de la rive droite de la Lufira [alt. 1480], Park National de l'Upemba."[1]

Habitat

Gallery forest along rivers at altitudes between 1200 and 1500 meters.[3]

Attribution

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Cited references

  1. 1.0 1.1 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. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 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. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Species Atheris katangensis at the Species2000 Database
  5. 5.0 5.1 Atheris katangensis at The World of Atheris
  6. Atheris katangensis (TSN 634946) at Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed 26 March 2007.