Montatheris

The East African mountain viper ( Montatheris Hind ) is the only species of the monotypic genus ( Montatheris ). It is a very small viper that lives only in the higher elevations of the Mount Kenya massif and the Aberdare Range in Kenya.

Description

The East African mountain Otter is on average 20 to 30 inches long and reach a maximum body length of 35 centimeters. The dorsal coloration is brown to gray with a two-line series of dark gray triangles that are bright border. The belly is gray with a dark gray mottling. The dorsal scales are strongly keeled and arranged in the middle of the body in 24 to 27 rows.

The head is very little separated from the body and elongated eyes with vertical pupils are directed relatively small and forward. The head has a striking V or arrow drawing, which is directed forwards, and a wide dark bands along the mouth opening, which are whitish labials.

Distribution and habitat

The East African mountain Otter is known only in two separate populations at altitudes 2700-3800 meters of the Mount Kenya massif and the Aberdare Range in Kenya.

The species prefers damp and largely treeless wetlands in the high altitudes than ground living species it uses tufts of grass as hiding places.

Way of life

The Otter is largely diurnal due to the relatively cold habitat, as the cold nights would lead to cooling of the snake. Accordingly, they also remains on cold and cloudy days in hiding.

It hunts small lizards, chameleons and skinks about, frogs and small mammals. As predators, raptors were observed.

Little is the propagation of the species known, it is, however, ovoviviparous and accordingly brings to live young. A captive female animal brought in January two, another in May three pups. Young snakes were collected mainly in February. Newborn snakes have a body length of 10-13 centimeters.

System

The East African mountain Otter is the only species of the genus Montatheris. This was introduced in 1996 with a revision of the genus Atheris together with the likewise monotypic genus Proatheris by Donald G. Broadly. Within the Real vipers ( Viperinae ), the East African mountain otter with the bush vipers ( Atheris ), the swamp viper ( Proatheris superciliaris ) is the only species of the genus Proatheris and Uzungwe Viper ( Adenorhinos barbouri ) is the only species of the genus Adenorhinos to a monophyletic taxon Atherini summarized. The exact phylogenetic position of East Africa 's viper within the Atherini is, however, not been determined.

Poison

About the poison of this type has no information.

Swell

Cited sources

The information in this article originate for the most part the limits given in literature sources, in addition, the following sources are cited: