Uzungwe viper
| Uzungwe viper | ||||||||||||
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| Atheris barbouri | ||||||||||||
| Loveridge , 1930 |
The Uzungwe viper ( Atheris barbouri , Syn .: Adenorhinos barbouri ) is a species of snake of the genus Atheris within the vipers (Viperidae). The distribution area of this viper is limited to the mountain ranges of the Uzungwe and Ukinga mountains in southern Tanzania in Africa.
features
The Uzungwe viper is a small species that only reaches around 40 centimeters in total length. The basic color is brown to black-brown with a dorsolateral pair of zigzag bands that begin at the head and extend to the tail. Individually, these can form a band of darker and irregularly shaped rhombuses on the back. The tail can have fine, black spots, the belly side is greenish to olive green in color.
The head is broad and triangular and strongly set off from the body at the neck. The muzzle is short and rounded. The head is covered with small, strongly keeled scales and the eyes are very large. They reach a diameter that is about 1.5 times the distance between the eye and the mouth opening. The nostrils are clearly directed forward and lie on an undivided nasal , which is adjacent to the pre-ocular shield .
The body is relatively slender and elongated and the tail is relatively short compared to the bush vipers of the genus Atheris and not designed as a prehensile tail. The back scales are strongly keeled and arranged in the middle of the body in 20 to 23 rows; only the outermost row consists of smooth scales. The ventral side is covered with 116 to 122 ventralia , these are followed by an undivided anal and 19 to 23 undivided subcaudalia .
distribution and habitat
The known distribution area of the Unzungwe viper is only very small. The snake is known to this day only from the mountain ranges of the Uzungwe and Ukinga mountains in southern Tanzania , with the terra typica in Dabaga in the Uzungwe mountains near Iringa at an altitude of approx. 1,830 meters above sea level.
Unlike the bush vipers, which are adapted to tree life, the viper lives terrestrially in forests and grass forests in mountain ranges over 1,800 meters. Moist forests are preferred, but the snake has also been found in tea plantations.
Way of life
Very little is known about the way of life of the Uzungwe vipers. Originally an underground way of life was adopted, for which the snake has no anatomical adaptations. The main sources of food are probably snails, earthworms and other soft-skinned soil animals. It may also hunt for frogs.
The species is egg-laying ( oviparous ). In February 1930 three females could be caught, each carrying 10 eggs, the largest egg measuring 1.0 × 0.6 cm.
Systematics and research history
Among the real vipers (Viperinae), the Uzungwe viper was the only species of the genus Adenorhinos with the bush vipers ( Atheris ), the East African mountain otter ( Montatheris hindii ) as the only species of the genus Montatheris and the marsh viper ( Proatheris superciliaris ) as the only species of the genus Proatheris grouped into a monophyletic taxon Atherini . The Uzungwe viper is, according to the DNA findings of Lenk et al. 2001 despite morphological differences, however, the sister species of the Usambara bush viper ( Atheris ceratophora ) within the bush vipers. Accordingly, the Uzungwe viper is now assigned to the bush vipers again and the genus Adenorhinos is discarded.
Poison
Nothing at all is known about the snake's venom. Neither the composition nor the effect or biting accidents have been documented so far. This is likely mainly due to the very rare encounter between humans and this snake.
swell
Sources cited
Most of the information in this article has been taken from the sources given under literature; the following sources are also used and cited:
- ↑ Lenk, P., S. Kalayabina, M. Wink & U. Joger (2001) Evolutionary relationships among the true vipers (Reptilia: Viperidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 19: 94-104. ( Full text PDF )
- ^ Atheris barbouri in The Reptile Database
literature
- David Mallow, David Ludwig, Göran Nilson: True Vipers. Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company Malabar, Florida, 2003; Pages 193-204. ISBN 0-89464-877-2
Web link
- Atheris barbouri inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Spawls, S. & Joger, U., 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2014.