Proatheris

The Swamp Viper ( Proatheris superciliaris ) is the only species of the monotypic genus of the African swamp vipers ( Proatheris ). The range of this very small Viper is limited to parts of the East African countries of Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.

Features

The Swamp Viper will average between 40 and 50 inches long and has a maximum body length of 60 centimeters, the females are slightly larger than males. The body is strong, however, is formed in contrast to the extended Puffottern rather long. The tail is relatively short and makes about 20 percent of the males, in females only about 15 percent of the total length of. The body weight in the males by 70, with the females by 100 grams. Young snakes are only about 15 inches long and weigh about 3 grams.

The snake is dark brown to gray colored with a series of 29-39 dark spots along the back, wear on both sides of the center line of a lighter, yellowish-white line drawing, which continue in the areas between the spots in each of a pair of light brown spots. On the flanks of other smaller dark spots also are available. The ventral side is gray-brown with spots, the Subcaudalen are yellow to light orange. The crown has the same color as the body and is equipped with a artcharakteristischen dark brow drawing a dark eye band and also a dark tip of the snout.

The triangular and broad head is distinct from the body and slightly extended in comparison to other species. His forehead is flattened, the apex region is easy spines and rounded the tip of the snout. The nostrils are sitting between two nasals on the head side. The front Nasalschuppe is located on the broad, visible from above, rostral, both are from the first upper lip plate ( Supralabiale ) by a small-to four rows of scales separate. The eyes are medium in size and are located on the side of the head, the distance between the mouth and the eye is about one eye diameter, the pupil is formed perpendicular and elliptical. Large head shields are missing with the exception of long -trained eye shields About ( Supraocularia ), instead of the head with many small scales is covered. Above the mouth are eight to nine, ten or eleven rare, upper lip shields, the third or rarely the fourth with three to four Sublabialia is in contact. All scales and shields with the exception of the small scales on top of the head are smooth, the latter have an oblique applied Kiel on the surface.

The body has at its thickest point 27 to 29 dorsal scale rows, which decrease by merger to the region of the cloaca in 17 to 19 rows. The scales are very strongly keeled except the outermost. The belly is occupied 131-159 ventral scales ( Ventralia ). The Analschuppe is undivided, her close to 32 to 45 pairs of scales of tail ( Subcaudalia one) using the last 5 pairs can be merged.

Distribution and habitat

The Swamp Viper is found in East Africa. In the center of the distribution area is the eastern part of the Zambezi and Luangwa and it runs to the coastal plains of Mozambique and the Shire Valley to Chilwa and Malawi. The southernmost localities are from Central Mozambique near the city of Beira, from where the distribution area stretches over the plains of the country until after Quissanga and Malawi to the northernmost localities in the flooded areas in Tanzania at the north end of Lake Malawi. The first description of the species was performed on a specimen from Mozambique, as Terra Terra typica is Querimba, given the mainland opposite the Ilha Querimba.

The species is found only in areas with moist to wet soil, mainly in lowland swamps, flood plains and in the grass and pasture. They are dependent on the distribution of their prey, their buildings they choose usually also as a base. Often the animals are found in pastures, which was made available by the local population by burning. On sandy soils and dry conditions the snakes, however, are not to be found

Systematics and history of research

The Swamp Viper was first scientifically described in 1854 by Wilhelm Peters and assigned to the time the only Viper Vipera genus. In 1961, an assignment to the benthic puff adders in the genus Bitis, 1965 due to various features and skull of a partially constructed as a prehensile tail rear end in the bush or tree vipers ( Atheris ). A revision of the genus Atheris the snake was filed to the other Atheris species only species in the new genus Proatheris due to their morphological and immunological differences in plasma albumin, which was introduced together with the likewise monotypic genus Montatheris by Donald G. Broadly.

Within the Real vipers ( Viperinae ), the swamp viper with the bush vipers ( Atheris ), the East African mountain viper ( Montatheris Hind ) is the only species of the genus Montatheris and Uzungwe Viper ( Adenorhinos barbouri ) is the only species of the genus Adenorhinos to a monophyletic taxon Atherini summarized. The Swamp Viper is probably the most primitive kind, the sister species of all other Atherini represent the exact phylogenetic position of East Africa 's viper is unknown and the Uzungwe Viper is after the DNA findings of Lenk et al. 2001, despite morphological differences, the sister species of the Usambara bush viper ( Atheris ceratophora ) within the bush vipers. The bush vipers set accordingly in relation to these outsourced Uzungwe 1965 Viper not a natural taxon, the snake will be classified according to when a new revision again in the Atheris.

Poison

Very little is known about the venom of the viper sump. An analysis of the composition has not yet been performed, and there are few case studies. In one case a 24 - year-old man from about 20 inches long, born in captivity young snake was bitten on the index finger, with only one fang penetrated the finger. As a result, developed severe pain and a significant blue-black Bulla at the bite site. This regressed after about eight days, leaving no visible wound. A second case was significantly severe and showed the typical for the tree vipers hemolytic effects, which led to failure of the liver and kidney function. The patient survived due to an initiated plasmapheresis.

Etymology

The species name superciliaris derives from the very large and conspicuous About Eye shields ( Supraocularia ) from the snake. Super is the Latin prefix for " on " and the cilium " eyelid ". The genus name is derived from the name of the genus Atheris and the Latin prefix per -, means "the pre- Atheris " and refers to the potential position of the snake in the family tree at the base of the tree vipers.

Swell

Cited sources

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