''Atheris desaixi'', commonly known as the Mount Kenya bush viper,
[ Spawls S, Branch B (1995). ''The Dangerous Snakes of Africa''. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books / Oriental Press. 192 pp. .][ Mallow D, ]Ludwig D
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, Nilson G (2003). ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. . Ashe's bush viper,
or Desaix's bush viper,
[
] is a
venomous
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
viper
The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs tha ...
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to Kenya, where only two isolated populations are known. It is known for its striking black and yellow coloration.
No
subspecies are currently recognized.
Etymology
This species, ''A. desaixi'', is named in honor of Frank DeSaix, an American
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to provide international development assistance. It was established in March 1961 by an executive order of President John F ...
volunteer who collected the first specimen.
Description
Adults of ''A. desaixi'' average 40–60 cm (about 16-24 inches) in total length (including tail), with a maximum total length of . Newborns measure in total length.
In Ashe's original 1968 description, adults were reported to grow to an average 49–68 cm (about 19-27 inches) total length, with a head and body length of and a tail length of .
The eyes are set well forward in the head and are surrounded by 14–17 scales.
Interorbital scales
In snakes, the interorbital scales, or intersupraoculars, are the scales on the top of the head between the plates surmounting the eyesWright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. . ...
number 8–11. The eye is separated from the
nasal by two to three scales and from the
supralabials by two.
Upper labials
In reptiles, the supralabial scales, also called upper-labials, are those scales that border the mouth opening along the upper jaw. They do not include the median scaleWright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates ...
: 10–12.
Sublabials: 11–14. The
rostral scale
The rostral scale, or rostral, in snakes and other scaled reptiles is the median plate on the tip of the snout that borders the mouth opening. Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: ...
is not as wide as it is long, while its upper margin is highest at the center. The rostral is also accompanied by an even number of suprarostrals. The superciliary scales above the eyes are not enlarged (as opposed to ''
A. ceratophora''). The nasal scale is round and single, or partially divided.
Midbody, the
dorsal scale rows number 24–31. The dorsal scales are short and heavily keeled. However, on the upper dorsals the keels terminate before the end of each scale. On the lower dorsals, the keels are serrated (like in ''
Echis
''Echis'' (common names: saw-scaled vipers, carpet vipersSpawls S, Branch B. 1995. ''The Dangerous Snakes of Africa''. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. .) is a genus of vipers found in the dry regions of Africa, the Middle E ...
''). The
ventral scale
In snakes, the ventral scales or gastrosteges are the enlarged and transversely elongated scales that extend down the underside of the body from the neck to the anal scale. When counting them, the first is the anteriormost ventral scale that cont ...
count is 160–174. In females the
subcaudals
In snakes, the subcaudal scales are the enlarged plates on the underside of the tail.Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. . These scales may be either single or divided (pair ...
number 41–54. One male specimen had 53 subcaudals.
The color pattern consists of a greenish-black to charcoal-black ground color, while each scale is tipped with yellow or yellowish-green, giving the animal a speckled appearance. Some scales have more of this color to them and form a series of loops along the sides of the body. These loops may fuse into zigzag patterns posteriorly, fading again on the tail. Anteriorly, the venter is yellow or yellowish, fading towards a purplish-black towards the rear and under the tail, except for the tip that is blotched with yellow. Juveniles are mainly yellow with a white tipped tail. This darkens as they grow until they reach the adult color phase at a total length of about .
Distribution and habitat
There are two isolated populations of ''A. desaixi'' in Kenya: one in the forests at Chuka, south-eastern
Mount Kenya, and the other near Igembe in the northern Nyambeni range. The
type locality is listed as "near Chuka, Lat. 0° 20' S, Long. 37° 35' E, in rain forest at an altitude of c. ", Kenya.
The original specimens, for which field notes were taken, were found in dense
rain forest
Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainforest ...
at , collected in clearings and along pathways in the dense foliage about above the ground. The conditions were very humid and all specimens were collected within a radius.
In this environment, their coloration offers them an excellent camouflage, making them very difficult to spot.
Behavior
Little is known of the behavior of ''A. desaixi''. It is obviously
arboreal
Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally, but others are exclusively arboreal. The habitats pose nu ...
, moving slowly and deliberately among the branches of its habitat as other ''Atheris'' species do, but it is unknown when daily peak activity occurs.
In captivity, it is just as willing to accept food during the day as at night.
When captured, it will strike readily and struggle vigorously in the hand. It may also perform a characteristic,
stridulating threat display, in which counterlooped coils and the lower serrated, keeled scales are rubbed against one another to produce a loud hissing noise. However, captive specimens soon calm down and this behavior is lost.
Feeding
''A. desaixi'' is reported to be an opportunist,
preying on
amphibians,
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
s and small
bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...
s.
Reproduction
A gravid female specimen of ''A. desaixi'' found in the Nyambeni range is reported to have given birth to 13 offspring in the month of August. Newborns measured in total length.
Interactions with humans
Conservation status
As of 2019, the species ''A. desaixi'' is listed as "Endangered" on the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
[Spawls S, Malonza P (2019). "''Atheris desaixi'' ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T44980116A44180121.en. Accessed on 03 August 2022.] The species is listed in Appendix II of
CITES
CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of interna ...
meaning international trade is regulated through the CITES permit system.
Snakebites
The Kenyan who collected the first specimens was bitten by an adult, with a single
fang penetrating his right index finger. There was significant swelling and pain. A
tourniquet
A tourniquet is a device that is used to apply pressure to a limb or extremity in order to stop the flow of blood. It may be used in emergencies, in surgery, or in post-operative rehabilitation.
A simple tourniquet can be made from a stick an ...
was applied and an unknown
antivenin
Antivenom, also known as antivenin, venom antiserum, and antivenom immunoglobulin, is a specific treatment for envenomation. It is composed of antibodies and used to treat certain venomous bites and stings. Antivenoms are recommended only if th ...
was administered, after which the patient made a full recovery. It is doubtful, however, that the antivenin made any difference in this case, for no antivenin is known to be effective. Nevertheless, since these snakes are relatively large (for ''Atheris'') and their venom is known to contain powerful
anticoagulants, a bite should be taken seriously. Poor
coagulation
Coagulation, also known as clotting, is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot. It potentially results in hemostasis, the cessation of blood loss from a damaged vessel, followed by repair. The mechanis ...
may even require
blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of transferring blood products into a person's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used for various medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood. Early transfusions used whole blood, but mo ...
s.
References
Further reading
*
Ashe, James (1968). "A new bush viper". ''Journal of the East African Natural History Society and National Museum, Nairobi'' 27: 53–59. (''Atheris desaixi'', new species).
*Hedges, Norman G. (1983). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa''. Nairobi: Kenya Literature Bureau. 139 pp.
External links
CoP13, Prop. 30a
CITES Accessed 8 October 2006.
Mount Kenya bush viper (''Atheris desaixi'' ), Kenyaa
Dr. Zoltan Takacs Homebase Accessed 9 October 2006.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2869038
desaixi
Snakes of Africa
Reptiles of Kenya
Endemic fauna of Kenya
Reptiles described in 1968