Is the Great Lakes Bush Viper venomous?

Yes. The Great Lakes Bush Viper (Atheris nitschei) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (viper). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.

Is the Great Lakes Bush Viper poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Great Lakes Bush Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.

Where does the Great Lakes Bush Viper live?

The Great Lakes Bush Viper has verified records in 7 countries, including Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Uganda, Burundi. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Viperidae

Great Lakes Bush Viper

Venomous

Atheris nitschei

2 photographs of the Great Lakes Bush Viper. © Elliot Greiner.

The Great Lakes Bush Viper (Atheris nitschei) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 7 countries.

If you are bitten

This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.

Family: Viperidae
Danger: high

About the Great Lakes Bush Viper

Common names: Great Lakes bush viper, Nitsche's bush viper, more.

Atheris nitschei is a species of venomous snake, a viper in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

Taxonomy

The former subspecies Atheris nitschei rungweensis from southwestern Tanzania, northeastern Zambia and northern Malawi was elevated to species rank as Atheris rungweensis.

Etymology

The specific name, nitschei, is in honor of German zoologist Hinrich Nitsche (1845–1902).

The 1906 junior synonym, A. woosnami, was in honor of Kenyan game ranger Richard Bowen Woosnam (1880–1915), who later fought in World War I and was killed in action at Gallipoli.

Description

Atheris nitschei is a relatively large and stout bush viper, growing to an average total length (tail included) of 60 cm (24 in) and a maximum total length of at least 80 cm (31 in). The males are smaller than the females.

Common names

Common names for Atheris nitschei include Great Lakes bush viper, Nitsche's bush viper, black and green bush viper, Nitsche's tree viper. sedge viper, green viper, bush viper.

Geographic distribution

Atheris nitschei is found in forests of the Central African Albertine Rift, in southern and eastern DR Congo, Uganda, western Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Zambia.

The type locality is listed as "Mpororosumpf, Deutsch-Ost-Afrika" [Mpororo swamp, Tanzania-Rwanda border].

Habitat

Preferred natural habitats of Atheris nitschei are wetland and meadow areas, and elephant grass marshes, along small streams, sometimes in scrub and bush in valleys at higher elevations, and in mountain forests up to the bamboo zone at 1,600–2,800 m (5,200–9,200 ft) altitude. It is common in papyrus reed around small lakes.

Venom

Atheris nitschei has highly toxic venom like other species in the genus Atheris. Not much is known about its venom but envenomation has caused severe bleeding and hemorrhaging.

Reproduction

Atheris nitschei is viviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Great Lakes Bush Viper

Is the Great Lakes Bush Viper venomous?: Yes. The Great Lakes Bush Viper (Atheris nitschei) is venomous and belongs to the Viperidae family (viper). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
Is the Great Lakes Bush Viper poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Great Lakes Bush Viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Great Lakes Bush Viper dangerous?: This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
Where does the Great Lakes Bush Viper live?: The Great Lakes Bush Viper has verified records in 7 countries, including Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Uganda, Burundi. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Great Lakes Bush Viper?: The specific name, nitschei, is in honor of German zoologist Hinrich Nitsche (1845–1902). The 1906 junior synonym, A. woosnami, was in honor of Kenyan game ranger Richard Bowen Woosnam (1880–1915), who later fought in World War I and was killed in action at Gallipoli.

If you are bitten by the Great Lakes Bush Viper

A venomous snakebite is a medical emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately. In the US, dial 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

Do not

Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.

First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.

Where it is found

Congo, Democratic Republic of the Uganda Burundi Rwanda Congo Tanzania, United Republic of Kenya

More Viperidae snakes

Classification

How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards: Squamata
FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits: Viperidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Atheris
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Atheris nitschei

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.