#Rungwe bush viper

[herpsandbirds]

Rungwe Bush Viper (Atheris rungweensis), family Viperidae, Southern Highlands, Tanzania

Venomous.

photographs by Laura Bok

[exotic-venom]

(Atheris nitschei rungweensis)  Rungwe tree viper, Rungwe bush viper, green-&-yellow bush viper

Description: Medium-sized arboreal adder, adults usually 40-70 cm long (max. 73+ cm). Body usually light to bright green above, w/ irregular black patterns (maybe zig-zags) due to black-tipped, keeled dorsal scales (w/ 23-33 midbody rows). Belly lighter, usually greenish-yellow, young usually solid brownish w/ bright yellow tail tip. 

Habitat: Found mainly 2-4 m above ground in reeds, grass & bamboo of upland papyrus & phragmites swamps, riverine elephant grass, bamboo, & montane forest up to 2,800 m elevation. May also occur in suitable habitats in northwestern Mozambique, but no specimens confirmed from there, so far.

Activity and Behavior: Mainly nocturnal (but often basks in sun) & mainly arboreal (but often hunts on the ground at night). Less excitable than many other bush vipers, but can be aggressive when disturbed. Prey mainly on available frogs, less often on small mammals, &/or lizards. Ovoviviparous, w/ probably 5-13 young/ litter. Young may practice "caudal luring" of prey. 

Venom Characteristics: Not much studied, but probably mainly hemotoxic. Bites of humans rare, no serious human envenomations or fatalities reported, so far. Not considered lethal to humans, but no specific antivenom currently produced.

[lovingexotics]

Rungwe Bush Viper Atheris rungweensis Source: Here