Common names: Usambara bush viper, horned bush viper, eyelash bush viper, more.

Atheris ceratophora is a venomous

Venomous snake

"Poisonous snake" redirects here. For true poisonous snakes, see Rhabdophis.Venomous snakes are snakes which have venom glands and specialized teeth for the injection of venom...

 viper

Viperinae

The Viperinae, or viperines, are a subfamily of venomous vipers found in Europe, Asia and Africa. They are distinguished by their lack of the heat-sensing pit organs that characterize their sister group, the Crotalinae. Currently, 12 genera and 66 species are recognized...

 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 found only in a few mountain ranges in Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

. This is the only horned, arboreal viper in Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

Grown to a maximum length of 54 cm. Females slightly larger than males. The maximum length for a male is reported to be 42 cm, the tail of which measured 8 cm.

Easily recognized by a set of 3-5 horn-like superciliary scales above each eye. The rostral scale has more than twice the length of its width. It has 9 upper labials. The chin shield contacts 3 of the lower labials.

Mid-body, the dorsal scales

Dorsal scales

In snakes, the dorsal scales are the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, but do not include the ventral scales.When counting dorsal scales, numbers are often given for three points along the body, for example 19:21:17...

 number 21-25. The ventral scale count is 142-152. There are 41-56 subcaudals.

The color pattern consists of a yellowish-green, olive, gray or black ground color. This may or may not be overlaid by variable markings, sometimes in the form of irregular black spots or cross-bars that may be lined with yellow or white spots. The belly is dirty orange to almost black in color, sometimes with dark spots.

Common names

Usambara bush viper, horned bush viper, eyelash bush viper, Usambara mountain bush viper, horned tree viper, Usambara tree viper.

Geographic range

The Usambara

Usambara Mountains

The Usambara Mountains are a mountain range in North-East Tanzania, approximately long and ranging from 20 to in width. Mountains in the range rise as high as 8,000 ft ....

 and Uzungwe Mountains in Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

. The type locality is "Usambara" Mountains [Tanzania]. They are probably also found in the Uluguru Mountains

Uluguru Mountains

The Uluguru Mountains are a mountain range in eastern Tanzania, Africa, named after the Luguru tribe. The main Uluguru Mountains is a ridge running approximately north-south and rising to 2,630 m altitude at its highest point...

.

Habitat

Found in grass and low bushes about 1 m above the ground in woodlands and forests at altitudes of 700-2000 m.

Behavior

Like other Atheris species, it is probably active mainly at night, or at dawn or dusk.

External links

• Atheris ceratophora at Corallus.com. Accessed 8 October 2006.
• Atheris ceratophora at Baumpython.com. Accessed 8 October 2006.