• Source: Atheris acuminata

Atheris acuminata, the acuminate bush viper, is an arboreal species of viper found in Western Uganda, closely related to the viper species Atheris hispida. The species gets the name 'acuminate' and 'acuminata' from the long dorsal scales on the back of its head and the front half of its body, which present as long hollow curves which thin to a sharp point. As with all vipers, A. acuminata is venomous.




Description


Atheris acuminata is distinguished from A. hispida by its pentagonal rostral shield with its two large suprarostrals (of which the A. hispida has three), its enlarged frontal shield, its five interorbitals (of which the A. hispida has 6–10), six supralabials (of which A. hispida has 7-10) and its acuminate spines which go down to its midbody (while A. hispida only has them on its head and neck).
Aside from distinguishing it from A. hispida, A. acuminata has 3 internasals, 10 maximum transverse head scales, 11 or 12 circumorbital scales, no interoculabials, 1 interocunasal, 7 or 8 infralabials and 1 pair of sublinguals.




Reproduction


Atheris acuminata is ovoviviparous.




Distribution


Atheris acuminata is found in the trees of a forest near Nsere Lodge within Kyambura Game Reserve, Ankole District, Western Uganda




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Beludak semak Afrika
• Atheris acuminata
• Atheris
• List of snakes by scientific name
• List of viperine species and subspecies
• IUCN Red List vulnerable species (Animalia)