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    Atheris chlorechis

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    Atheris chlorechis.
    Atheris chlorechis
    Scientific classification
    Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
    Subphylum: Vertebrata
    Class: Reptilia
    Order: Squamata
    Suborder: Serpentes
    Family: Viperidae
    Subfamily: Viperinae
    Genus: Atheris
    Species: A. chlorechis
    Binomial name
    Atheris chlorechis
    (Pel, 1851)
    Synonyms
    • Vipera chlorechis - Pel, 1851
    • Vipera chloroechis - Schlegel, 1855
    • Vipera (Echis) chloroechis - Jan, 1859
    • Tox[icoa]. chloroëchis - Cope, 1860
    • Vipera chloroechis - Cope, 1862
    • E[chis]. chlorechis - Jan, 1863
    • Atheris polylepis - Peters, 1864
    • Atheris chloroëchis - Peters, 1864
    • Atheris proximus - Rochebrune, 1885
    • Atheris chlorechis - Boulenger, 1896
    • Atheris chloraechis - Cansdale, 1981
    • Atheris chlorechis - Broadley, 1996[1]

    Atheris chlorechis is a venomous viper species found only in the forests of West Africa.[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

    Common names: western bush viper.[2]

    Description[edit]

    Adults average 50 cm in length with a maximum of 70 cm. The tail is relatively long. The body is relatively slender, with 25-36 mid-body rows of dorsal scales. These are heavily keeled, with the keels ending in a swelling at the end of each scale.[2] Adults have a uniform light green groundcolor, overlaid with a series of faint yellow, roughly paired spots running dorsally along the length of the body and about 2.5 cm apart. The belly is pale green in color.[2] Newborns are tan-brown in color, but this changes to a yellow-green hue with irregular dark spots within 24 hours.[4] This second color phase has been described as the reverse of that of the adults and is only seen in individuals less than 25 cm in length.[4][2]

    Geographic range[edit]

    Found in West Africa, including Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, isolated locations in Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The type locality is listed as "Boutre, Ghana."[1]

    Habitat[edit]

    Found in forests, in dense foliage about 1-2 m above the ground.[2]

    Feeding[edit]

    Said to feed on rodents, lizards and tree frogs.[2]

    Reproduction[edit]

    Gives birth to 6-9 young in March to April. Newborns are 131-151 mm in length.[4]

    Attribution[edit]

    Some content on this page may previously have appeared on Wikipedia.

    Cited references[edit]

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
    3. ↑ Atheris chlorechis (TSN 634943) at Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed 25 March 2007.
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.

    OTHER:

    • Cansdale GS. 1961. West African Snakes. London: Longman's. 75 pp.
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