When looking at the Atheris Viper, I can't help but be intrigued. If you're not fascinated in giant, vibrant eyes, surly you want to feel its feather-like scales. It reminds me of a snake version of sonic the hedgehog. It can range from olive green, blue, or green in color with a yellow or pale olive stomach. There are rare sightings in the wild of brightly colored -yellow, red or grey- snakes. This snake happens to go by many names due to its appearance: rough-scaled bush viper, spiny bush viper, feathered viper, and hairy bush viper.
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It's possible that the sharp looking scales are intended to be a natural warning system, as these snakes are pathetically small. Males (29 in), oddly enough, are generally 6 inches larger than females (23 in), which is uncommon in the animal kingdom. Though, this is not a very intimidating size. However, these snakes have a lethal side. You see, in these tiny firebombs, there is a big punch. The feathered viper, as I like to call it, happens to carry a deadly dose of neurotoxins and haemotoxins. Toxicity can vary greatly among different lengths of snakes, but either way, these snakes are nothing you can shake a stick at. Luckily, bites among humans are uncommon, but highly fatal when not treated immediately.
The feathered viper likes to call Central Africa its home. There, they can often be seen basking in the sun on top of a flower or leafs, because they are really that small. During the night, they grab a nice snack ranging from mammalian, reptilian, amphibian, to avian.
Cool Facts:
- Can hang from the very tip of their tails
- Ambush preditor
- Reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years of age
- Can survive in captivity 10 to 12 years
Links: http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/94805-Atheris-hispida
http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Atheris&species=hispida
http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/spiny_bush_viper_facts/920/
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