Description:
Scientific name: Atheris squamigera
Life span: 10-20 years
The poisonous viper species Atheris squamigera is also known as the African green bush snake, green bush viper, variable bush viper, leaf viper, Hallowell’s green tree viper, and others.
The head is wide and flat, as opposed to the neck. There is a huge gape in the mouth. The scales on the skull are heavily imbricate and keeled. From above, the rostral scale is not discernible. Very huge scales on either side of a very small scale slightly above the rostral. Side nostrils are present. Two scales divide the nose from the eye.
Native Region/Habitat
Atheris squamigera prefers somewhat low, dense flowering shrubs, and it generally lives in rainforest. Throughout the forests of West and Central Africa, from Ghana eastward to western Kenya and Tanzania, and south to northern Angola and Bioko Island, Atheris squamigera can be found.
Behavior:
Both terrestrial and arboreal snakes, green bush vipers prefer to spend their time alone. They hunt at night, and because of their pigmentation, they may hide in plain sight and attack small animals. Green bush vipers have two front hollow fangs that they use to inject their prey with hemotoxic venom, rendering it helpless.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
- When handled regularly and gently, handles incredibly well (allow 4 weeks)
- Requires between 20 and 40 litres of pretty easy setup (Semi-Aboreal)
- Provide humid hiding places and a climbing-friendly environment
- Depending on the subspecies, the diet of frogs, lizards, chicks, and feeder fish
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