Atheris acuminata BROADLEY, 1998

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Higher Taxa	Viperidae, Viperinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies
Common Names	E: Acuminate bush viper
Synonym	Atheris acuminata BROADLEY 1998 Atheris acuminata — DOBIEY & VOGEL 2007 Atheris acuminata — WALLACH et al. 2014: 61 Atheris acuminata — SPAWLS et al. 2018: 586
Distribution	W Uganda Type locality: forest near Nsere Lodge, Kyambura Game Reserve, Ankole District, W Uganda (00° o9’ S, 30° 08’), alt. ca. 950 m elevation.
Reproduction	ovovivparous
Types	Holotype: NMZB 13950
Diagnosis	Diagnosis: 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).
Comment	Venomous! Habitat: trees (arboreal) Apparently only known from the holotype.
Etymology	The 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.
External links	IUCN Red List http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cabana/4812/main.html http://costaricaherps.emconsulting.com/basilisk.html Google images

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