New Viper Discovered in Tanzania

Scientists working in the remote montane forests of southern Tanzania have recently discovered a new species of viper. The new snake, named after the daughter of one of the scientists involved in the discovery, is called the Matilda's horned viper (Atheris matildae).

The discovery was made by a team of experts that included Michele Menegon of Museo delle Scienze of Trento, Italy, Tim Davenport of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Kim Howell of the University of Dar es Salaam.

Matilda's horned viper is similar to (and larger than) the Usambara bush viper (Atheris ceratophora). Genetic analysis has revealed that the two species diverged about 2.2 million years ago.

Scientists expect the Matilda's horned viper to be classified as critically endangered by the IUCN due to the species' restricted range. It is thought that the Matilda's horned viper survives within a fragment of montane forest no larger than 100 square kilometers.

Since illegal wildlife trade presents a serious threat to many reptiles in the region, the exact location of the new snake's habitat has not been publicized.

Photo © Tim Davenport / Wildlife Conservation Society.