Causus resimus

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Causus resimus
Stamp of Congo, Republic (Brazzaville) - 1971 - Colnect 259907 - Green Night Adder Causus resimus.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Causus
Species:
C. resimus
Binomial name
Causus resimus
(W. Peters, 1862)
Synonyms [2]
  • Heterophis resimus
    W. Peters, 1862
  • Causus resimus
    — Bocage, 1886
  • Causus Jacksonii
    Günther, 1888
  • Causus nasalis
    Stejneger, 1893
  • C[ausus] resimus var. angolensis
    Bocage, 1895
  • Causus resimus
    — Boulenger, 1896

Causus resimus is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is found in isolated populations distributed across tropical Africa. [3] There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. [4]

Contents

Description

As an adult, C. resimus usually has a total length (tail included) of 30–60 cm (12–24 in), with a maximum recorded total length of 75 cm (30 in). [5] It appears relatively stout. [3]

The head is short, with an upturned snout, and slightly distinct from the neck. The circumorbital ring includes 2 preoculars, 2 postoculars and 1–2 subocular scales. There are 6–7 sublabials. The temporal scales number 2+3 (rarely 2+4). [3]

At midbody there are 19–22 rows of faintly keeled dorsal scales that have a velvety appearance. There are 131–155 ventral scales. The anal scale is single. There are 16–27 paired subcaudals. [3]

The color pattern consists of a green ground color that may be anything from bright green to olive. This is overlaid with a series dark inverted chevron-like crossbars that run down the back, similar to C. defilippii and C. rhombeatus . The chin and throat are yellow. The belly is a yellowish, cream or pearly in color. [3]

Common names

Common names for C. resimus include green night adder, [3] [5] velvety-green night adder, [6] and green viper. [7]

Geographic range

C. resimus is found in Central and eastern Africa from Nigeria east to Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and south to Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. An isolated population occurs in western Angola. The type locality is listed as "Sennâr, vom Gebel-Ghule" (Jebel Ghule, Sennar, Sudan). [2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of C. resimus are low-lying moist savanna, wooded hills, high grasslands, and the riparian zones of rivers that run through swamps, rocky gorges, coastal scrubland, and semi-deserts. It is also known to occur in man-made habitats, such as abandoned quarries, sugar cane plantations, and in borrow pit pools along roads. [3] It has been found at altitudes from sea level to 1,800 m (5,900 ft). [1]

Behavior

If disturbed, C. resimus inflates itself and puts on a ferocious hissing and puffing threat display. The front part of the body is raised and coiled, from which position it tends to make sweeping and lashing strikes as opposed to a stabbing motion. It is mostly terrestrial, but is also a good swimmer and has been known to climb into sedges in pursuit of prey. Despite the term "night adder" in some of its common names, it is diurnal and is often seen basking. It hides under cover on the ground when not active. [3]

Reproduction

C. resimus is oviparous. [1] [8] Clutch size is 4–12 eggs. [9] In Somalia, eggs are laid in July. [9]

Venom

Little is known about the venom of C. resimus, but it is presumed to be similar to that of other species in the genus Causus. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viperinae</span> Subfamily of snakes

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaboon viper</span> Species of snake

The Gaboon viper, also called the Gaboon adder, is a large and highly venomous viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. It is the largest member of the genus Bitis, and has the longest fangs of any venomous snake – up to 2 inches (5.1 cm) in length – and the highest venom yield of any snake. No subspecies are recognized.

<i>Bitis</i> Genus of snakes

Bitis is a genus of 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.

<i>Bitis nasicornis</i> Species of snake

Bitis nasicornis is a viper species belonging to the genus Bitis, part of a subfamily known as "puff-adders", found in the forests of West and Central Africa. This large viper is known for its striking coloration and prominent nasal "horns". No subspecies are currently recognized. Its common names include butterfly viper, rhinoceros viper, river jack and many more. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

<i>Causus</i> Genus of snakes

Causus is a genus of vipers found only in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a group considered to be among the most primitive members of the family Viperidae based on head scalation, oviparity, venom apparatus, and because they have round pupils. However, this is contradicted by recent molecular studies. Seven species are currently recognized as being valid. They are commonly known as night adders. Like all other vipers, they are venomous.

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

Atheris barbouri is a small and rare species of terrestrial viper endemic to the Uzungwe and Ukinga mountains of south-central Tanzania in Africa.

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.

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

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. Like all other vipers, it is a venomous species. Atheris chlorechis venom can lead to major systemic envenoming, shock, blood loss due to coagulopathy, and renal failure. There is no antivenom.

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

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 viper found in East Africa.

<i>Bitis parviocula</i> Species of snake

Bitis parviocula is a venomous viper species found only in Ethiopia. It is large with a broad head and spectacular geometric markings. In 1995, the species was known from only three specimens, but additional information has surfaced since then. Little is known about its natural history or its venom. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bitis peringueyi</i> Species of snake

Bitis peringueyi, also known as the Peringuey's adder, Peringuey's desert adder or desert sidewinding adder, is a viper species found in Namibia and southern Angola. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bitis xeropaga</i> Species of snake

Bitis xeropaga, commonly known as the desert mountain adder or Lüderitz dwarf viper, is a viper species found in southern Namibia and northwestern Cape Province in South Africa. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Echis hughesi</i> Species of snake

Echis hughesi, also known commonly as Hughes' carpet viper, the Somali carpet viper, and Hughes' saw-scaled viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Somalia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

Echis pyramidum aliaborri is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to northern Kenya.

Causus maculatus is species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to West Africa and Central Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Common names include forest rhombic night adder, West African night adder, and spotted night adder.

<i>Causus rhombeatus</i> Species of snake

Causus rhombeatus, commonly known as the rhombic night adder, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. No subspecies are recognized as being valid.

Causus bilineatus is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to southcentral Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<i>Causus defilippii</i> Species of snake

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

Causus lichtensteinii is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to western, central, and eastern Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Luiselli, L.; Beraduccii [sic], J.; Msuya, C.A.; Ngalason, W.; Howell, K.; Chirio, L.; Kusamba, C.; Gonwouo, N.L. (2021). "Causus resimus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T13300970A13300979. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T13300970A13300979.en . Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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.
  4. ↑ "Causus resimus ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 15 August 2006.
  5. 1 2 Spawls S, Branch B (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Oriental Press / Ralph Curtis Books. 192 pp. ISBN   0-88359-029-8.
  6. ↑ Spawls S, Howell K, Drewes R, Ashe J (2004). A Field Guide To The Reptiles Of East Africa. London: A & C Black Publishers Ltd. 543 pp. ISBN   0-7136-6817-2.
  7. ↑ U.S. Navy (1991). Poisonous Snakes of the World. New York: U.S. Government / Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN   0-486-26629-X.
  8. ↑ Causus resimus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  9. 1 2 3 Spawls et al. (2018).

Further reading


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