Atheris katangensis

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Caenophidia
Superfamilia: Viperoidea

Familia: Viperidae
Subfamilia: Viperinae
Genus: Atheris
Species: Atheris katangensis
Name

Atheris katangensis de Witte, 1953: 301

Holotype: IRSNB 2207.

Type locality: “Mubale-Munte, Upemba National Park, Zaire”.
References
Links

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2021. Atheris katangensis. The Reptile Database. Accessed on 22 October 2018.

Vernacular names
English: Katanga Mountain Bush Viper

Common names: Shaba bush viper,[2][3] Katanga Mountain bush viper,[4] more.

Atheris katangensis is a venomous viper species found in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Zambia. No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]

Description

It attains a maximum total length (body + tail) of only 40 cm (16 in), making this the smallest member of the genus Atheris.[2]

The head is flat, triangular, distinct from the neck, and covered with small keeled scales. The snout is rounded. Midbody there are 24–31 rows of dorsal scales. The tail is short. Males and females have 45–59 and 38–42 subcaudal scales respectively.[2]

The color pattern consists of a purple-brown or yellow-brown ground color, overlaid with paired dorsolateral lines of a contrasting shade. These lines may break into a zigzag pattern and run from head to tail. The belly is yellowish, as is the tip of the tail.[2]
Common names

Shaba bush viper,[2][3] Katanga Mountain bush viper,[4] Upemba bush viper, Katanga bush viper,[5] Katanga tree viper.[6]
Geographic range

It is found in the Upemba National Park, Katanga Province (Shaba Province) in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Zambia.[4]

The type locality given is "Mubale-Munte (région du confluent), sous-affluent de la rive droite de la Lufira [alt. 1480], Park National de l'Upemba".[1]
Habitat

Gallery forest along rivers at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,500 meters (about 4,000–5,000 ft).[3]
References

McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
Atheris katangensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 5 September 2021.
Atheris katangensis at The World Of Atheris. Accessed 8 September 2007.

Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73–229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.