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They are relatively small in size, with adults ranging in total length (body + tail) from 55 cm (22 in) for A. katangensis to a maximum of 78 cm (31 in) for A. squamigera.[2]
All species have a broad, triangular head that is distinct from the neck. The canthus is also distinct and the snout is broad. The crown is covered with small imbricate or smooth scales, none of which is enlarged. The eyes are relatively large with elliptical pupils. The eyes are separated from the supralabials by 1–3 scale rows and from the nasal by 2–3 scales.[3]
The body is slender, tapering, and slightly compressed. The dorsal scales are overlapping, strongly keeled and have apical pits. Laterally these are smaller than the middorsals. Midbody there are 14–36 rows of dorsal scales. There are 133–175 rounded ventral scales. The subcaudal scales are single and number 38–67.[2][3] The tail is strongly prehensile and can support the body while suspended from a branch or a twig.[5]
Members of this genus come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, often within a single species. A. ceratophora and A. squamigera are particularly variable.[6]
Location
They inhabit rainforest regions and forests, mostly in remote areas far from human activity.[2]
They are found in tropical subsaharan Africa, excluding southern Africa.[1]
Some species have only isolated populations, surviving in small sections of ancient rainforest. They once had a much wider distribution but are now declining.[2]
Conservation status
Some species are threatened by habitat destruction.[2]
A major cause of illness and mortality in both caged and wild bush viper snakes is Snake fungal disease(SFD).[7]
Behavior
All species have extreme aggressive tendencies. All species are arboreal, although they can sometimes be found on or near the ground.[6]
Diet
Atheris species have been known to prey upon a variety of small amphibians, lizards, rodents, birds, and even other snakes. Some species or populations may specialize in eating frogs, but most have been described as opportunistic feeders.[3][6] Prey is typically ambushed from a hanging position, held until it has succumbed to the venom, and then swallowed.[6]
Reproduction
All Atheris species are ovoviviparous.[5] Mating takes place in October and November, and the females give birth to live young in March and April.[8]
Captivity
A. squamigera is reported to do very well in captivity, needing only arboreal access and having no particular temperature requirements. Captive specimens take mice and small birds.[3] However, there have been reports of cannibalism.[6] Food may be refused during the African winter months of July and August.
Venom
Limited understanding exists about their venom, except that it is strongly hemotoxic, causing pain, swelling, and blood clotting problems.[2] Until recently, their venom has often been regarded as less toxic than that of many other species, perhaps because bites are uncommon,[3] but this turned out not to be the case. There are now a number of reports of bites that have led to severe hemorrhaging.[9][10][11] One case was fatal.[3]Atheris-specific antivenom does not exist[2] and antivenom meant for bites from other species seems to have little effect, although Echis antivenom has been reported to have been of some help in a case of A. squamigera envenomation.[3] Symptomatic replacement therapy[clarification needed] is applied due to the absence of an Atheris-specific antivenom.[12]
West and central Africa: Ivory Coast and Ghana, eastward through southern Nigeria to Cameroon, southern Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, northern Angola, Uganda, Tanzania (Rumanika Game Reserve), western Kenya, and Bioko Island
^ abcdefghiSpawls S, Branch B (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN0-88359-029-8.
^ abcdefghiMallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN0-89464-877-2.
^Mebs D, Holada K, Kornalík F, et al. (October 1998). "Severe coagulopathy after a bite of a green bush viper (Atheris squamiger): case report and biochemical analysis of the venom". Toxicon. 36 (10): 1333–40. Bibcode:1998Txcn...36.1333M. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(98)00008-7. PMID9723832.
^Wang, He, et al. (2018). "Comparative Profiling of Three Atheris Snake Venoms: A. squamigera, A. nitschei and A. chlorechis ". The Protein Journal37 (4): 353–360. doi:10.1007/s10930-018-9781-y.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Atheris broadleyi, p. 39).
^Branch WR, Bayliss J (2009). "A new species of Atheris (Serpentes: Viperidae) from northern Mozambique". Zootaxa. 2113: 41–54. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2113.1.2.
Bonaparte CL (1849). "On the Lorine genus of Parrots, Eclectus, with the description of a new species, Eclectus cornelia". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 17: 142–146 [145, footnote].
Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the ...Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers.) xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. (Genus Atheris, p. 508.)
Cope ED (1862). "Notes upon some REPTILES of the Old World". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 14: 337–344 [343–344].
Freed P (1986). "Atheris chlorechis (West African bush viper)". Herpetological Review. 17 (2). Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles: 47–48.
Günther ACLG (1863). "On new species of snakes in the collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 11 (3). London: 20–25 [25]. doi:10.1080/00222936308681373.
Lanoie L, Branch W (1991). "Atheris squamiger: fatal envenomation". Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa. 39. Stellenbosch: 29.
Love W (1988). "Bush vipers (Atheris): Experiences in breeding and maintenance". Vivarium. 1 (3): 22–25.
Pareti KS (1994). "Cannibalism in a captive West African bush viper (Atheris chloroechis)". Herpetological Review. 25 (1). Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles: 17.
