Rough Scaled

Bush ViperBy: Saagar Parikh

DescriptionThe head has a short snout, more so in males than in

females. The nostril is like a slit and separated from the eye by two scales. The body is covered with elongated, heavily keeled, dorsal scales that give this species a "shaggy", almost bristly appearance. The scales around the head and neck are the longest, decreasing posteriorly. It also has relatively large eyes and long, tubular, hollow fangs. Typical coloration for the Rough Scaled Bush Viper is a yellowish-green or yellowish-orange color.

SizeThe females of this species grow to maximum total length of 29 in. Males tend to be smaller with a maximum total length of 23 in. The males are surprisingly long and slender compared to the females.

Home And HabitatThe Rough Scaled Bush Viper lives in Africa and

distributed throughout Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Angola, and Togo. This viper occurs primarily in tropical forests and areas with dense vegetation where small rodents and other prey animals are plentiful. This species is most commonly found at elevations ranging from 100 to 400 m in elevation.

FeedingThe Rough Scaled Bush Viper is nocturnal and like other vipers, is an ambush predator. As such, it spends a large amount of time laying in wait for potential prey to enter its precise location. Once in range, the viper strikes very rapidly, with speeds recorded in milliseconds. It spends large amounts of time in one place due to this predatory behavior. It feeds mainly on small, nocturnal mammals such as shrews and rodents. Less commonly, it feeds on birds, frogs, and small reptiles. Juveniles feed on reptiles more often than their adult counterparts. Like other vipers, Rough Scaled Bush Viper adults often prey on younger snakes of their own species. The venom of this viper is lethal and is used to kill prey before swallowing it whole.

GLOSSARY• Elongated - unusually long in relation to its width

• Keeled – Turned over on its side• Dorsal Scales - the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body of a

snake• Posteriorly - further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end,

especially of the body or a part of it• Slender - gracefully thin• Ambush - a surprise attack by something lying in wait in a concealed

position• Counterpart - a person or thing holding a position or performing a

function that corresponds to that of another person or thing in another place

• Lethal - sufficient to cause death