Central and Souihern Africa 



impynis of lake margins (ji- niilaiid swaiiips, (ir in the 

 elephant grass of luiiiiid valleys up to a height of 10 

 feet from the ground. Reported at altitudes of G.OOO to 

 ".."00 feet. 



lyciiiiirks: This is a ver.v common Imsli viper in its 

 rather lestricted range. It appears to he a minor 

 hazard. 



\o antivenin is iiroduceil for this grouji of vipers. 



Green Bush Viper, Athrrix sijim iii'kiciii (llalld- 

 well). 



Iil('iiUfiriiti<iii : \ green or sometimes yellow viper 

 without any lilack markings. It usually has yellow 

 crossbands or i>aired yellow siiols hut may he almost 

 unicolor. Dorsal scales larger and fewer than in .1. 

 vitsc]ici. Uody \isnally slender hut large individuals 

 may he (piite sloul. .\<lulls average alMUil 18 to 24 

 inches in length: occasional individuals approach 30 

 inches. 



Crown of head uni<-olor green: labials light yellow or 

 cream. Body green usually with 30-35 narrow yellow 

 crossbands or iiaired yellow spots; .sometimes unicolor 

 green or yellow with scattered green scales. Chin 

 yellow; belly like the dorsal surface. 



Dorsals l.")-2.S on neck and at midbody. fewer i 11-17) 

 posteriiuly. Venlrals l.")L'-I7."i : subcau<lals t."« ()7. 



Flo I UK (!7. — (Ireen I'.ush S'ipei', Alliiiis siiniiiiiii/ciyi. 

 IMioto by Isabclle Hunt Conant. i Sec also jilate VII. 

 figure T). ) 



DistritiKtifDi: The troiiical rain forest region from 

 western Kenya and the Cameroons to Angola ; on the 

 island of Fernando Po. 



Remarks: This snuill arboreal viper, tliough common 

 through the forest areas, appears to be a minor hazard. 

 A very similar species. .1. rltlororrhix ( Schlegel ) . ranges 

 through Ihe forests <if west Africa. 



No antivenin is produced for this group of vipers. 



VIPERIDAE: Genus Atradaspis Smith, 1849. 



Mole xipers. 



Sixteen species are c\irrently recognized. All are 

 .\fiicnn except for I wo: .1. rnnaddoifiix Haas (which 

 ranges from Kgypt to Israel) and .1. mirrolcpidata 

 ( which is found in the southern part of the Arabian 

 I'eninsula as well as through much <if north and central 

 Africa). All are snnill snakes, less than 3 feet in 



length. However, they have large fangs (which look 

 enormous in the small month) and are capable of in- 

 tlicting serious bites on those who attempt to pick them 

 up or who step (ju them with hare feet. 



Definition: Head short and conical, not distinct from 

 neck, no canthus: snout broad, flattened, often iwinted. 

 Uody cylindrical, slender in small individuals, stout in 

 larger ones; tail .short, ending in distinct spine. 



Eyes very small : impils round. 



I''l(;i'KK (>.s. -Crown scutes of Atraclasjiix irri (/iilaris. 

 The broad rostral and frontal, the small supraoculars, 

 and the contact of nasal and preocnlar are shown. 

 These are all characteristics of the genus. 'See also 

 l)lafe VII, ligs, 7-.S.) Redrawn from Pitman. 1!»38. 



Head ,scales : The usiuil !) crown scales, rostral 

 enlarged, extending between internn.sals to some degree, 

 often pointed; frontal large and broad, supraoculars 

 small. Laterally, nasal in contact with single preocnlar 

 (no loreal), iismilly one postocular. 



Rod.v scales: Dorsals smooth without apical pits, in 

 111-37 nonobliipie rows at midbody. Ventrals 17s 37(i: 

 anal plate entire or divided (the only vijjerid snakes 

 with divided anal plates) ; subcaudals single or paired, 

 18-39. 



Bibron's Mole Viper, At rdctitspls hihronii Smitli, 



Iilciiliticiiliiin : \ iiuriilish-hrown or black, relatively 

 slender viper with small head and strongly projecting 

 snout. Adults average l.">-18 inches in length ; occa- 

 sional individuals may slightly exceed 2 feet. 



Dorsal color usually uniform, dark brown or black, 

 often with a iiuriilish sheen. Ventral color creamy 

 white, yellowish, siiotted with brown or entirely brown 

 except for light anterior edges to the ventrals. Ventral 

 cohu', when light, extends \ip onto the first 2-3 rows of 

 dorsal scales and onto the lips. 



Five supralabials and one (occasionally two) anterior 

 temporal ; third infralabial greatly enlarged, separated 

 from its fellow below by 2-3 scales. Dorsals in 21-25 

 rows at midbody. Ventrals 100-200; anal plate entire; 

 sidicaudals 10-28. all or mostly single. 



DixtrHiiition: These snakes usually live under stones 

 (u- in burrows and are commonly seen on the surface 

 only after heavy rains have driven them from their 

 subterranean (juarters. From Angola and sotithern 



99 



