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Viperidae

Mt Rungwe bush viper

Venomous

Atheris rungweensis

Mt Rungwe bush viper
Atheris rungweensis, (c) Eric Matthews, some rights reserved (CC BY)

The Mt Rungwe bush viper (Atheris rungweensis) is a venomous snake in the Viperidae family, recorded in 4 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 Mt Rungwe bush viper

Atheris rungweensis, commonly known as the Rungwe tree viper, Mt Rungwe bush viper, and Rungwe leaf viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to East Africa.

Taxonomy and etymology

The specific name rungweensis is derived from the species' type locality in the Rungwe Mountains. A. rungweensis was formerly considered as a subspecies of Atheris nitschei.

Description

A. rungweensis grows to a maximum total length (tail included) of 65 cm (26 in). At midbody, it has 22–33 dorsal scale rows. The ventral scales number 150–165, and the subcaudals 46–58.

The color pattern is variable, with a ground color that ranges from bright green to green to black. Usually, this is overlaid with a pair of yellow dorsolateral zigzag lines. A row of yellow spots on the sides of the ventral scales may also be present. Specimens from the Sumbawanga region usually have a green, yellow, and black color pattern. Neonates are a dark brown or gray, but with a bright yellow tail tip.

Distribution and habitat

A. rungweensis is known from scattered locations from south-western Tanzania to north-eastern Zambia and south to the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi.

A. rungweensis is usually found in low bushes along streams and at the edges of mountain forests at altitudes of 800–2,000 m (2,600–6,600 ft). Occasionally, it is encountered in moist savanna, woodland, and hill forest habitats.

Behavior

A. rungweensis is fully arboreal.

Reproduction

A. rungweensis is ovoviviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Mt Rungwe bush viper

Is the Mt Rungwe bush viper venomous?
Yes. The Mt Rungwe bush viper (Atheris rungweensis) 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 Mt Rungwe bush viper poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Mt Rungwe bush viper is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Mt Rungwe 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 Mt Rungwe bush viper live?
The Mt Rungwe bush viper has verified records in 4 countries, including Tanzania, United Republic of, Malawi, Zambia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Mt Rungwe bush viper?
The specific name rungweensis is derived from the species' type locality in the Rungwe Mountains. A. rungweensis was formerly considered as a subspecies of Atheris nitschei.

If you are bitten by the Mt Rungwe 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.

Do

  • 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

Tanzania, United Republic ofMalawiZambiaZimbabwe

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 rungweensis

Keep learning

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