Bush viper (Atheris squamigera)

This viper needs to be sprinkled several times a week, because they don't drink from a bowl. This species is polymorphic. Specimens can be green, blue, orange, yellow, red, etc. or a combination of these colors. The 'normal' form is green but the former name 'Green bush viper' is a little confusing because of all other variations. Etymological the name 'squamiger' means 'scale-carrying' (squama and gera). The scalation of this species is very typical and strongly keeled. Atheris hispida, another Atheris species, has a more exceptional scalation and looks somewhat hairy. The tail is strongly prehensile.

Classification
Viperidae

Distribution
Atheris squamigera is found in Northwestern Angola, north to Camaroon, Uganda to western Kenya.

Habitat
Rain forests, openwoodland bordering forests and swamps.

Food
This specis primarily preys on rodents, but it also likes to eat frogs, lizards and birds.

Venom
These little vipers posses a potent venom that is haemotoxic but it also contains neurotoxic properties. The venom is highly toxic, but deaths are rare.

Breeding
To breed you have to simulate the wet/dry seasons. A two to three months period of reducing misting and humidity followed by introducing the male to the female and a lot of misting can be succesful.