Atheris nitschei


Atheris nitschei is a venomous viper species found in Africa from Uganda and adjacent DR Congo to Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi.

Taxonomy

The former subspecies Atheris nitschei rungweensis from southwestern Tanzania, northeastern Zambia and northern Malawi was elevated to species rank.

Etymology

The specific name, nitschei, is in honor of German zoologist Hinrich Nitsche.
The 1906 junior synonym, A. woosnami, was in honor of Kenyan game ranger Richard Bowen Woosnam, who later fought in World War I and was killed in action at Gallipoli.

Description

Atheris nitschei is a relatively large and stout bush viper, growing to an average total length of and a maximum total length of at least. The males are smaller than the females.

Common names

Common names for A. nitschei include Great Lakes bush viper, Nitsche's bush viper, black and green bush viper, Nitsche's tree viper. sedge viper, green viper, bush viper.

Geographic range

Atheris nitschel is found in forests of the Central African Albertine Rift, in eastern DR Congo, Uganda, western Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.
The type locality is listed as "Mpororosumpf, Deutsch-Ost-Afrika" .

Habitat

Preferred habitats of A. nitschei are wetland and meadow areas, and elephant grass marshes, along small streams, sometimes in scrub and bush in valleys at higher elevations, and in mountain forests up to the bamboo zone at altitude. It is common in papyrus reed around small lakes.