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. 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. |
Etymology | Named after Latin acuminare (to sharpen), referring to the elongate dorsal scales on the back of the head and anterior body, which taper in long hollow curves to a sharp point. |
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