Atheris barbouri

Atheris barbouri
Conservation status
	; Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Atheris
Species:	A. barbouri
Binomial name
	Atheris barbouri; Loveridge, 1930
Synonyms
	Atheris barbouri; Loveridge, 1930; Adenorhinos barbouri; — Marx & Rabb, 1965; Adenorhinus [barbouri ] ; — Dowling & Duellman, 1978; Atheris barbouri; — Menegon et al., 2011;

Last updated April 20, 2024

Taxonomy

The specific name, barbouri, is in honor of American herpetologist Thomas Barbour.^[5] Common names for include Uzungwe viper,^[4] Barbour's viper,^[4] worm-eating viper, Barbour's short-headed viper,^[1]^[6] and Uzungwe mountain bush viper.^[1]^[3] No subspecies are recognized.^[3]

Atheris barbouri was originally described in 1930 as a member of the genus Atheris (bush vipers). In 1978, it was assigned to the genus Adenorhinos by Dowling & Duellman. It differs morphologically from the Atheris group, but recent research by Lenk et al. (2001) suggests that it is closely related to the sympatric species, Atheris ceratophora , even though it differs morphologically from all other members of the genus Atheris . It was returned to the genus Atheris by Menegon et al. in 2011. Future research will show whether A. barbouri should be moved back to Adenorhinus, or that Atheris ceratophora and A. barbouri should form a separate clade.^[6]

Atheris barbouri is similar to Montatheris hindii and Proatheris superciliaris , which are also both terrestrial species from monotypic genera, as well as previous members of the Atheris group.^[2]

Description

Atheris barbouri is a small species reaching only 40 cm (16 in) in total length (including tail).^[4] The head is broad, triangular and distinct from the neck. The snout is short and rounded. The head is covered with small, strongly keeled, imbricate scales. The eyes are prominent, about 1.5 times larger than the distance to the mouth. The nostril is in an extreme forward position and is part of a single nasal scale that touches the preocular scale.^[6]

The body is moderately slender, while the tail is relatively short, shorter than other species in the genus Atheris , and not prehensile. The dorsal scales are arranged in 20-23 rows at midbody, and are strongly keeled, except for those in the outermost rows, which are smooth. Ventral scales number 116-122 and are rounded. Subcaudals are 19-23 and are single (undivided). The anal plate is single.^[4]^[6]^[7]

The color pattern consists of a brown to blackish brown ground color with a pair of zigzag stripes that run dorsolaterally from the back of the head to the end of the tail. These stripes may form an irregular chain of darker rhombic blotches down the back. The tail may have a faint, black checkering. The belly color is greenish white to olive.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

The range of A. barbouri is extremely limited. It is known only from the Uzungwe and Ukinga mountains of south-central Tanzania.^[1]^[4]

The type locality is "Dabaga, Uzungwe Mountains, southeast of Iringa, Tanganyika Territory, altitude 6,000 feet (1,800 m)" (= Udzungwe Mountains, Tanzania).^[2]

A terrestrial species, A. barbouri is found in bushes and bamboo undergrowth on mountain slopes at 1,800 m (5,900 ft).^[4] It would seem that moist forest habitats are preferred, but it has also been found in gardens of tea farms.^[8]

Behavior and ecology

Little is known about the behavior of A. barbouri. It was first thought to be a burrowing species, but this is not likely as it has no obvious morphological adaptations for even a semifossorial life.^[4]

Feeding

It is believed that A. barbouri specializes in eating slugs, earthworms, and other soft-bodied invertebrates,^[4] and possibly also frogs.^[8]

Reproduction

Atheris barbouri is apparently oviparous. In February 1930, three females were collected that each contained 10 eggs. The largest egg measured 1.0 cm × 0.6 cm (0.39 in × 0.24 in).^[8]

Venom

No information is available regarding the venom of A. barbouri, its composition, its toxicity, or the effects of a bite. No cases of envenomation have been recorded. However, because of the very limited distribution, bites are unlikely to occur.^[6]

Related Research Articles

Viperinae, or viperines, are a subfamily of vipers endemic to Europe, Asia and Africa. They are distinguished by their lack of the heat-sensing pit organs that characterize their sister group, the subfamily Crotalinae. Currently, 13 genera are recognized. Most are tropical and subtropical, although one species, Vipera berus, even occurs within the Arctic Circle. Like all vipers, they are venomous.

Bitis is a genus of venomous vipers found in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. It includes the largest and the smallest vipers in the world. Members are known for their characteristic threat displays that involve inflating and deflating their bodies while hissing and puffing loudly. The type species for this genus is B. arietans, which is also the most widely distributed viper in Africa. Currently, 18 species are recognized.

Atheris squamigera is a venomous viper species endemic to west and central Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Atheris is a genus of vipers known as bush vipers. They are found only in tropical subsaharan Africa and many species have isolated and fragmented distributions due to their confinement to rain forests. Like all other vipers, they are venomous. In an example of convergent evolution, they show many similarities to the arboreal pit vipers of Asia and South America. Seventeen species are currently recognized.

Proatheris is a monotypic genus created for the viper species, Proatheris superciliaris. This is a small terrestrial species endemic to East Africa. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Montatheris is a monotypic genus created for the viper species, Montatheris hindii, a venomous snake also known by the common names Kenya mountain viper, Kenya montane viper, montane viper, and Hind's viper. This is a small terrestrial species endemic to Kenya. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid.

Macrovipera, known as the large Palearctic vipers, is a genus of vipers that inhabit the semideserts and steppes of North Africa, the Near and Middle East, and the Milos Archipelago in the Aegean Sea. Like all other vipers, they are venomous. These snakes are responsible for a number of bites in Africa and Western Asia every year. They have a reputation for being ill-tempered and can inject a lot of venom, which is why they should be considered as very dangerous. Two species are currently recognized.

Atheris ceratophora is a venomous viper species endemic to a few mountain ranges in Tanzania. This used to be the only horned, arboreal viper known from Africa, until the discovery in 2011 of Atheris matildae, also found in Tanzania. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Atheris chlorechis is a viper species found only in the forests of West Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. It is the type species of its genus. It is venomous. Atheris chlorechis venom can lead to major systemic envenoming, shock, blood loss due to coagulopathy, and renal failure. There is no antivenom.

Atheris desaixi, commonly known as the Mount Kenya bush viper, Ashe's bush viper, or Desaix's bush viper, is a venomous species of viper endemic to Kenya, where only two isolated populations are known. It is known for its striking black and yellow coloration. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Atheris katangensis, also known as the Katanga Mountain bush viper and other common names, is a species of venomous viper found in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Zambia. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Atheris nitschei is a species of venomous snake, a viper in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<i>Atheris rungweensis</i> Species of snake

Atheris rungweensis, commonly known as the Rungwe tree viper, Mt Rungwe bush viper, and Rungwe leaf viper, is a species of venomous viper found in East Africa.

Atheris anisolepis, otherwise known as the Mayombe bush-viper, is a species of viper endemic to west-central Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. The Atheris anisolepis is very similar to the Atheris squamigera but it is differentiated by the complete row of scales between the supralabial scales and the ocular scales as well as having enlarged, smooth, and/or weekly keeled scales. However, this differentiation does not always apply and may not always be accurate.

Bitis worthingtoni, also known commonly as the Kenya horned viper and the Kenyan horned viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Kenya. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

The Moorish viper is a venomous viper species found in northwestern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Causus defilippii, commonly known as snouted night adder, is a species of snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to East and Southern Africa. Although its venom is nonlethal to humans, it is still considered medically significant. There are no recognized subspecies.

Mixcoatlus barbouri is a venomous pit viper species endemic to Mexico. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Atheris matildae, also known as Matilda's horned viper, is a species of arboreal forest viper endemic to Tanzania.

Ancylodactylus barbouri, also known commonly as Barbour's gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to Tanzania.

References

1 2 3 4 5 Msuya, C.A.; Ngalason, W.; Howell, K.; Spawls, S.; Joger, U. (2019). "Atheris barbouri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T178617A46182303. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T178617A46182303.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
1 2 3 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
1 2 3 Atheris barbouri at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 August 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Spawls S, Branch B (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books / Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Adenorhinus barbouri, p. 16).
1 2 3 4 5 Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
↑ U.S. Navy (1965). Poisonous Snakes of the World. Washington, District of Columbia: United States Government Printing Office. 212 pp.
1 2 3 Spawls S, Howell K, Drewes R, Ashe J (2004). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. Waltham, Massachusetts: Academic Press. 543 pp. ISBN 0-7136-6817-2.