Atheris photos

[BushSnake]

Never thought I'd post in this category I went to photograph some Atheris, in particular the Atheris hispida at a friends house and figured I might just as well post the pics. I have no idea what happened with the automatic resizing, as all the pictures are different sizes now.

Atheris ceratophora- Horned Bush Viper






Atheris hispida- Bristly Bush Viper






Atheris squamigera - Variable Bush Viper


Where do these snakes live in the forests where they occur? Some of the places where they occur (Kakamega, etc) have trees that are 50m and higher, but do the snakes live on top or on the way up, and what do they feed on naturally? Where can I find out a bit more about their habits, etc. Most websites only give data needed for keeping them in captivity.

[Fooble]

Weirdest looking head of a snake ive seen.
Pretty cool though.
nice

[Alan Hyde]

very nice photos, and lovely snakes too

[armata]

I was lucky enough to observe both A.hispida and A.squamigera in Kakamega, W.Kenya years ago, they are sympatric but ecologically separated. A.hispida always look underfed compared to A.squamigera. I think A.hispida is mainly a frog feeder where A.squamigera will take small mammals in addition to frogs.

[steve]

Great photos! Very nice snakes indeed.
I’ve never heard of A.hispida to take small mammals of any kind. I think they are predominantly frog feeders, possibly small lizards and geckos too, although even this I have not heard of. I’ve kept them before, but they did not thrive in captivity at all, as much as I tried. Pity because they are lovely looking snakes.
cheers

[Pythonodipsas]

Very nice pictures of great snakes. It's been known for a while that Atheris hispida feed on slugs. Robert Meidinger of Costa Rica has bred these snakes and raised babies on slugs. It seems like the predominant food source. I have heard it is the parasite load which often becomes pathogenic under stress and kills these snakes before long. Adequate deworming with a broad spectrum dewormer (fenbendazole [Panacur]) and an anti-amoebic/anti-flagellate (metroinidazole [Flagyl]) should help.

Otherwise i know the owner of these snakes and wish him success with keeping and breeding them.

[Echis]

Hi Armata, what do you think "ecologicaly separated" in A. hispida and A. squamigera in Kakamega. I found only squamigera in Kakamega. It were a babies, which lived on the trees above small pound, where they looked for some Hyperolius. I found a frogs in their GIT. They were in primary forest in dense vegetation in the centre of forest. Where you found A. hispida? Thanks for answer, Tomas.

[armata]

Hi Tomas
I found A.hispida almost exclusively in reedbeds, mainly papyrus, often perched right on the crown. The slug diet sounds interesting; but no shortage of frogs which I am sure makes up the bulk of the diet.

[Pythonodipsas]

Interesting how you found them Tony! You are so lucky to have experienced this.

The slug diet was not only dicovered by Robert Meidinger. I think it was first discovered by a keeper in the USA. Subsequently a lot of people caught on and are having more success feeding them slugs than anything else.

[feri]

very schweet pics, i love the Atheris family.