Atheris anisolepis

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Atheris anisolepis
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Atheris
Species:
A. anisolepis
Binomial name
Atheris anisolepis
Mocquard, 1887
Synonyms
  • Atheris anisolepis
    Mocquard, 1887
  • Atheris laeviceps
    Boettger, 1887
  • Atheris squamigera anisolepis Bogert, 1940
  • Atheris anisolepis
    Broadley, 1996[1]
Common names: (none).

Atheris anisolepis is a venomous viper species endemic to west central Africa.[1] No subspecies are currently recognized.[2]

Geographic range[edit]

It is found in west central Africa: Gabon, Congo, west DR Congo, north Angola.

The type locality given is "d'Alima Lékéti ... Congo (Franceville)". Broadley (1996:41) limited it to "Alima Leketi, Congo" by lectotype designation.[1]

Taxonomy[edit]

Golay et al. (1993) list this species as a subspecies of A. squamigera. Lawson and Ustach (2000) go a step further, considering it to be a junior synonym of A. squamigera. Either way, it is removed from the list of species.[3][4][5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c 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).
  2. ^ "Atheris anisolepis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
  3. ^ Atheris squamigera at The World Of Atheris. Accessed 8 September 2007.
  4. ^ Atheris squamigera at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.
  5. ^ 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.

Further reading[edit]

  • Lawson DP, Ustach PC. 2000. A redescription of Atheris squamigera (Serpentes: Viperidae) with comments on the validity of Atheris anisolepis. Journal of Herpetology (Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles) 34 (3): 386-389.
  • Golay P, Smith HM, Broadley DG, Dixon JR, McCarthy CJ, Rage J-C, Schätti B, Toriba M. 1993. Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World: A Checklist. Geneva: Azemiops. 478 pp.
  • Mocquard F. 1887. Sur les Ophidiens rapportés du Congo par la Mission de Brazza. Bull. Soc. Philomath., Paris, Series 7, 11: 62-92.
    ("Atheris anisolepis, n. sp.", pp. 89–92.)