none
The specific epithet refers
to the sharply pointed and elongated (acuminate)
dorsal scales on the back of head and
anterior body.
none
Known from a single specimen - a male
from forest near Nsere Lodge, Kyambura
Game Reserve, Ankole District, western
Uganda at an altitude of 950 m.
This species is closely related to Atheris
hispida differing primarily in
head and body scalation. The sharply pointed
and elongated body scales extend to mid-body
- whereas in A.
hispida the upturned 'spiny' scales
do not extend past the neck region. This
species is yellowish green with dark markings
on head and tail and the described specimen
was 17 inches (44 cm) in length.
Very little is known about this exceptionally
rare species. The holotype was collected
on a path in gallery forest fringing a
small lake and its feeder river just south
of Lake George on the Frontier-Uganda
UG12 Game Reserves Project. This is a
crater lake that is primarily surrounded
by the savannah of the Kyambura Game Reserve.
