Atheris matildae

Atheris matildae, also known as Matilda's horned viper, is a species of arboreal forest viper endemic to Tanzania.[1][2]

Atheris matildae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Atheris
Species:
A. matildae
Binomial name
Atheris matildae
Menegon, Davenport & Howell, 2011[1]

Discovery

It was discovered in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania during a 2010–2011 biological survey. The exact location of the viper is unspecified, to protect it from being collected for the illegal pet trade.[3][4] The snake was described as a new species on December 6, 2011, in a study published in the journal, Zootaxa. A captive breeding colony has already been established by the authors of the study.[3][4]

Behavior

The species is most likely a nocturnal ambush predator, waiting by streams to ambush frogs.

Description

It resembles Atheris ceratophora, the Usambara bush viper.[1][4] Atheris matildae is easily distinguished from all its congeners except for the A. ceratophora since they both have two to three enlarged hornlike structures above their eyes. A. matildae measures 64.3 centimetres (25.3 in) in total length, making it larger than A. ceratophora (the largest size ever recorded for A. ceratophora is 51.0 cm).[1][2]

Conservation status

Matilda's horned viper occupies only a small area further threatened by logging and charcoal production.

Origin of name

Atheris matildae was named after Matilda, the daughter of Tim Davenport,[1] the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Tanzania and a member of the three-person team to have discovered the snake.[5]

References
  1. Menegon, Michele; Davenport, Tim R. B.; Howell, Kim M. (2011). "Description of a new and critically endangered species of Atheris (Serpentes: Viperidae) from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, with an overview of the country's tree viper fauna". Zootaxa. 3120 (1): 43–54. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3120.1.3. (Atheris matildae sp. nov.)
  2. Atheris matildae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 21 April 2019.
  3. "New viper snake species found". BBC News. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  4. Hance, Jeremy (17 December 2011). "New large, horned viper discovered in Tanzania". The Citizen. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  5. Straziuso, Jason (11 January 2012). "New snake in Tanzania: 'Fierce, probably venomous'". The Washington Times. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
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