Atheris chlorechis: Difference between revisions

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{{subpages}}
{{Taxobox
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| color = pink
| name = ''Atheris chlorechis''
| name = ''Atheris chlorechis''
| image = Atheris_chlorechis.jpg
| regnum = Animalia
| image_width = 250px
| phylum = Chordata
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| subphylum = Vertebrata
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| classis = Reptilia
| subphylum = [[Vertebrate|Vertebrata]]
| ordo = Squamata
| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]]
| subordo = Serpentes
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| familia = Viperidae
| subordo = [[Snake|Serpentes]]
| familia = [[Viperidae]]
| subfamilia = [[Viperinae]]
| subfamilia = [[Viperinae]]
| genus = ''[[Atheris]]''
| genus = ''[[Atheris]]''
| species = '''''A. chlorechis'''''
| species = '''''A. chlorechis'''''
| binomial = ''Atheris chlorechis''
| binomial = ''Atheris chlorechis''
| binomial_authority = ([[H.S. Pel|Pel]], [[1851]])
| binomial_authority = (Pel, 1851)
| synonyms = * ''Vipera chlorechis'' - Pel, 1851
| synonyms = * ''Vipera chlorechis'' - Pel, 1851
* ''Vipera chloroechis'' - Schlegel, 1855
* ''Vipera chloroechis'' - Schlegel, 1855
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}}
}}


'''Common names:''' western bush viper.<ref name="Mal03">Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.</ref>
'''Common names:''' western bush viper.<ref name="Mal03" />Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.</ref>
 
&nbsp;<br/>
 
&nbsp;<br/>
'''''Atheris chlorechis''''' is a [[venomous snake|venomous]] [[Viperinae|viper]] [[species]] found only in the forests of [[West Africa]].<ref name="Mal03"/> No subspecies are currently recognized.<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS|ID=634943|taxon=Atheris chlorechis|year=2006|date=23 August}}</ref>
'''''Atheris chlorechis''''' is a venomous [[Viperinae|viper]] species found only in the forests of West Africa.<ref name="Mal03"/> No subspecies are currently recognized.<ref name="ITIS">[http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634943 ''Atheris chlorechis'' (TSN 634943)] at [http://www.itis.gov/index.html Integrated Taxonomic Information System]. Accessed 25 March 2007.</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
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.<ref name="Mal03">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.</ref>
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.<ref name="Mal03">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.</ref>
[[Image:Atheris-chlorechis-2-juvenile.jpg|left|thumb|240px|''A. chlorechis'', juvenile.]]
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.<ref name="Mal03"/> Newborns are tan-brown in color, but this changes to a yellow-green hue with irregular dark spots within 24 hours.<ref name="SB95">Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.</ref> 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.<ref name="SB95"/><ref name="Mal03"/>
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.<ref name="Mal03"/> Newborns are tan-brown in color, but this changes to a yellow-green hue with irregular dark spots within 24 hours.<ref name="SB95">Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.</ref> 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.<ref name="SB95"/><ref name="Mal03"/>


==Geographic range==
==Geographic range==
[[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 (biology)|type locality]] is listed as "Boutre, Ghana."<ref name="McD99"/>
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."<ref name="McD99"/>


==Habitat==
==Habitat==
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* [[List of viperine species and subspecies]].
* [[List of viperine species and subspecies]].
* [[:Category:True vipers - Common names|True vipers - Common names]].
* [[:Category:True vipers - Common names|True vipers - Common names]].
* [[Snakebite]].
* [[:Category:True vipers - Synonymy|True vipers - Synonymy]].
* [[Snake (animal)bite]].


==Cited references==
==Cited references==
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</div>
</div>


== External links ==
==External links==
{{Commons|Atheris chlorechis}}
* {{EMBL species|genus=Atheris|species=chlorechis}}.
* Integrated Taxonomic Information System - [http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634943 Atheris chlorechis]
* [http://www.kingsnake.com/atheris/chlorechis.html ''Atheris chlorechis''] at [http://www.kingsnake.com/atheris/index.html The World of Atheris]. Accessed 25 March 2007.[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
* {{EMBL species|genus=Atheris|species=chlorechis}}
* [http://www.kingsnake.com/atheris/chlorechis.html Atheris chlorechis] at ''KingSnake''
* {{YouTube|n0ztZPktVqI|Video of ''A. chlorechis'' feeding}} Accessed 27 September 2006.
 
[[Category:True vipers]]
[[Category:CZ Live]]

Revision as of 06:01, 14 July 2024

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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]

Common names: western bush viper.[2]Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.</ref>  
 
Atheris chlorechis is a venomous viper species found only in the forests of West Africa.[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Description

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

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

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

Feeding

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

Reproduction

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

See also

Cited references

  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 references

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

External links