Atheris matildae
| Atheris matildae | |
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| Species: | A. matildae
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| Atheris matildae Menegon, Davenport & Howell, 2011
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Atheris matildae, also known as Matilda's Horned Viper, is a species of arboreal forest viper discovered in the southern highlands of Tanzania during a 2010–2011 biological survey. The exact location of the viper is unspecified, to protect it from being collected for the illegal pet trade.[1] The snake was described on December 6, 2011, in a study published in the journal, Zootaxa. A captive breeding colony has already been established by the authors of the study.[1] The species is most likely a nocturnal hunter, waiting by streams to ambush frogs. It resembles the Usambara bush viper.[2][3] The viper occupies only a small area further threatened by logging and charcoal production.
Origin of name
The viper was named after Matilda, the daughter of Tim Davenport, the director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Tanzania and a member of the three-person team to have discovered the snake.[4]
References
- ^ a b "New viper snake species found". BBC News. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ theherismatildae.org/ Atherismatildae.org
- ^ New large, horned viper discovered in Tanzania The Citizen Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ^ New snake in Tanzania: 'Fierce, probably venomous' Yahoo News Retrieved 11 January 2012.