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Atheris acuminata BROADLEY, 1998

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Higher TaxaViperidae, Viperinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Acuminate bush viper 
SynonymAtheris acuminata BROADLEY 1998
Atheris acuminata — DOBIEY & VOGEL 2007
Atheris acuminata — WALLACH et al. 2014: 61
Atheris acuminata — SPAWLS et al. 2018: 586 
DistributionW Uganda

Type locality: forest near Nsere Lodge, Kyambura Game Reserve, Ankole District, W Uganda (00° o9’ S, 30° 08’), alt. ca. 950 m elevation.  
Reproductionovovivparous 
TypesHolotype: NMZB 13950 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: Closely related to A. hispida, but distinguished therefrom by the pentagonal rostral shield surmounted by two large suprarostrals (three in hispida); an enlarged weakly keeled frontal shield present, so that there are only five interorbitals (6-10 strongly keeled interorbital scales in hispida); only six supralabials (7-10 in hispida); mid-dorsal scales to beyond midbody with elongate recurved acuminate spines (such spines restricted to the head and neck region in hispida).


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CommentVenomous!

Habitat: trees (arboreal)

Apparently only known from the holotype. There seems to be no published live photo of this species, even though Spawls et al. 2018 have a very small photo of the holotype, but apparently in a preserved state. 
EtymologyThe name acuminata refers to the elongate dorsal scales on the back of the head and anterior body, which taper in long hollow curves to a sharp point. 
References
  • Broadley, D.G. 1998. A review of the genus Atheris Cope (Serpentes: Viperidae), with the description of a new species from Uganda. The Herpetological Journal 8: 117-135. - get paper here
  • Dobiey, M. & Vogel, G. 2007. Venomous Snakes of Africa - Giftschlangen Afrikas. Edition Chimaira, Terralog 15, 150 pp. - get paper here
  • Ernst, R. & Rödel, M. O. 2002. A new Atheris species (Serpentes: Viperidae), from Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. The Herpetological Journal 12: 55-61 - get paper here
  • Mallow, D. Ludwig, D. & Nilson, G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger, Malabar, Florida, 410 pp. [review in HR 35: 200, Reptilia 35: 74]
  • Phelps, T. 2010. Old World Vipers. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, 558 pp. [critical review in Sauria 33 (3): 19 and HR 43: 503]
  • Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Drewes, R.C. & Ashe, J. 2002. A field guide to the reptiles of East Africa. Academic Press, 543 pp. [reviews in HR 34: 396 and Afr. J. Herp. 51; 147] - get paper here
  • Spawls, Steve; Kim Howell, Harald Hinkel, Michele Menegon 2018. Field Guide to East African Reptiles. Bloomsbury, 624 pp. - get paper here
  • Wallach, Van; Kenneth L. Williams , Jeff Boundy 2014. Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. [type catalogue] Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, 1237 pp.
 
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As link to this species use URL address:

https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Atheris&species=acuminata

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