The Usambara Eyelash Bush Viper (Atheris ceratophora)

The Usambara Eyelash Bush Viper (Atheris ceratophora) is an endemic to Tanzania. It is an inhabitant of mid-elevation (~1400 m) humid mountain forest of the Ussambara and Udzungwa Mountains. They are predators of small rodents, lizards, and frogs. Most individuals are smaller than 2 feet in length as adults. Science does not know the function or purpose of the enlarged scales above the eyes, known as “superciliary scales.” Atheris ceratophora is the only arboreal viper to have superciliary scales in Africa. This is an interesting example of convergence in form or “convergent evolution” with the Central American Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegeli). Also a small arboreal mountain forest pit viper, B. schlegeli sports superciliary scales and can be found with bright shades of red, yellow, orange, and green.