East African mountain otter
| East African mountain otter | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Montatheris | ||||||||||||
| Broadley , 1996 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Montatheris hindii | ||||||||||||
| ( Boulenger , 1910) |
The East African mountain otter ( Montatheris hindii ) is the only species of the monotypic genus ( Montatheris ). It is a very small species of viper that only lives in the higher elevations of the Mount Kenya massif and the Aberdare Range in Kenya .
description
The East African mountain otter is on average between 20 and 30 centimeters long and reaches a maximum body length of 35 centimeters. The back color is brown to gray with a two-line row of dark gray triangles with a light border. The belly is gray with a dark gray mottling. The back scales are strongly keeled and arranged in the middle of the body in 24 to 27 rows.
The head is only very slightly separated from the body and elongated, the eyes with the vertical pupil are relatively small and directed forward. The head has a conspicuous V- or arrow mark, which is directed forward, as well as a broad dark stripe along the mouth opening, the labials are whitish.
distribution and habitat
The East African mountain otter is only known in two separate populations at altitudes of 2,700 to 3,800 meters of the Mount Kenya massif and the Aberdare Range in Kenya .
The species prefers moist and largely treeless swamp areas at high altitudes; as a ground-living species, it uses tufts of grass as hiding places.
Way of life
The otter is largely diurnal due to its relatively cold habitat, as the night-time cold would lead to the snake cooling down. Accordingly, it also remains in its hiding place on cold and cloudy days.
It hunts small lizards such as chameleons and skinks , frogs and small mammals . Birds of prey have been observed as predators.
Little is known about the reproduction of the species, but it is ovoviviparous and accordingly gives birth to live young. A captured female gave birth to two pups in January and another three in May. Young snakes could be collected mainly in February. Newborn snakes are 10 to 13 centimeters long.
Systematics
The East African mountain otter is the only species in the genus Montatheris . This was introduced in 1996 with a revision of the genus Atheris together with the likewise monotypical genus Proatheris by Donald G. Broadly. Within the Real vipers (Viperinae), the montatheris with the atheris ( Atheris ), the proatheris ( Proatheris superciliaris ) as the sole species of the genus Proatheris and the adenorhinos ( Adenorhinos barbouri ) as the sole species of the genus Adenorhinos to a monophyletic taxon Atherini summarized. The exact phylogenetic position of the East African mountain otters within the Atherini has not been determined.
Poison
No information is available on the poison of this species.
swell
Sources cited
Most of the information in this article has been taken from the sources given under literature; the following sources are also cited:
- ↑ Montatheris hindii in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
- ↑ DG Broadley: A review of the tribe Atherini (Serpentes: Viperidea), with the descriptions of two new genera. in the African Journal of Herpetology 45, 1996; Pages 40-48
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