The World Of Atheris - Atheris nitschei

Atheris nitschei Tornier, 1902
Atheris woosnami Boulenger, 1906
Atheris nitschei Boulenger, 1915
Atheris nitschei nitschei Bogert, 1940
Atheris nitschei Broadley, 1996

The name refers to the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo [formerly Zaire] where it is found.

Sedge Viper; Nitsche's Bush Viper

This snake is often referred to as the Great Lakes Bush Viper because it is found in eastern Kivu and extreme northeast Katanga [Shaba] Provinces of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo [Zaïre], Kigezi and Toro districts of southwestern Uganda including the Ruwenzori Mountains, and western Rwanda and Burundi (Broadley, 1998). These areas border Lakes Edward, Kivu, and Tanganyika. This range also includes the Virunga volcanoes that separate Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Spawls and Branch (1995) also reports this species from northwestern Tanzania.

Large and heavy bodied, this species is generally a shade of green with black markings and, often black tipped scales. The head may have a dark 'V' or arrow shaped mark or be almost solid black. A black lateral stripe is often present from the tip of the snout through the eye. The venter is yellowish or green. Juveniles are greyish-green, greyish-brown or dark grey to almost black with a white or yellowish tail tip. Adults may reach 75 cm (29 inches).

Upland swamps, papyrus beds, riverine elephant grass, and montane forest. Altitude range approximately 1600 to 2700 meters.