Atheris anisolepis explained

Atheris anisolepis, otherwise known as the Mayombe bush-viper, is a species of viper endemic to west-central Africa.^[1] 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.^[2]

Distribution

Atheris anisolepis is found in southern Gabon, southern Congo, and western Democratic Republic of Congo. It might be present in northern Angola, but was not listed as present by Marques and colleagues (2018).

Habitat

Atheris anisolepis is an arboreal snake that is found in drier areas of shrub and woodland-savanna at elevations below 400m (1,300feet).

Further reading

• Lawson DP, Ustach PC. 2000. A redescription of Atheris squamigera (Serpentes: Viperidae) with comments on the validity of Atheris anisolepis. Journal of Herpetology (Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles) 34 (3): 386–389.
• Golay P, Smith HM, Broadley DG, Dixon JR, McCarthy CJ, Rage J-C, Schätti B, Toriba M. 1993. Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World: A Checklist. Geneva: Azemiops. 478 pp.
• Mocquard F. 1887. Sur les Ophidiens rapportés du Congo par la Mission de Brazza. Bull. Soc. Philomath., Paris, Series 7, 11: 62–92.
  ("Atheris anisolepis, n. sp.", pp. 89–92.)

Notes and References

1. 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. (series). (volume).
2. Lawson, D. P., & Ustach, P. C. (2000). A Redescription of Atheris squamigera (Serpentes: Viperidae) with Comments on the Validity of Atheris anisolepis. Journal of Herpetology, 34(3), 386–389. https://doi.org/10.2307/1565361