Forums Rules Register
Go Back   Aussie Pythons and Snakes
     
Notices

Recent Herp Discussion
identify this snake?
by bbowie
Last post by diamondgeeza
Today 03:26 AM
New Pictures
Last post by trendkill
Today 02:57 AM
Levis's in Action Pics!
by TURBO8
Last post by trendkill
Today 02:55 AM
View Single Post
  #1  
Old 16-Feb-06, 02:11 PM
Guest
Posts: n/a
crazy looking snake

Came across this pic a while back on the net.... a mad looking little critter if ever I saw one
It's an atheris hispida african bristly bush viper. Here's some information on them:

Other Common Names:
Rough-scaled Bush (or Tree) Viper; Spiny Bush Viper; Hairy Bush Viper (this latter name should be avoided due to potential confusion with the recently described Atheris hirsuta, a species whose specific epithet literally means "hairy").

Distribution:
Isolated populations in western Kenya, southwestern Uganda, and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo [formerly Zaire] near Lakes Victoria, Edward, and Kivu.

Description:
Heavily keeled, elongated, and upturned scales. Snout is rounded and eyes are very large. Variable in color and pattern: yellowish green, olive brown, brownish, or black with a pale green venter (also may be black) becoming darker bluish or black caudally. Most members of this species have a dark chevron on head, and many have chevrons or zig-zag markings on body. Males are smaller and more slender than females, which may reach a length of up to 70 cm (28 inches).

Habitat and Behavior:
Equatorial and gallery forests, inland swamps, reed and papyrus swamps adjacent to lakes and rivers. Altitudes between 800-1900 meters. The stomach of the holotype contained a snail. May feed primarily on Hyperolidae reed frogs, but the "rapid slurping" feeding technique that this species is known to exhibit may suggest a specialization for soft-bodied invertebrates such as snails and slugs.
 

All times are GMT +10. The time now is 04:33 AM.