Atheris hispida
The next animal that I have decided to write about is a snake with the binomial nomenclature Atheris hispida. The more common name for this creature is the African hairy bush viper. It is an unusual snake due to the fact that it is not smooth, but has scales that point up and back to resemble spiky hair. It is very venomous, and people have died from encounters with the snake. The males can grow to a total length of 29in while the females can grow to a total length of 23in. The snake is found in central Africa mostly in rainforests. The snake can climb somewhat and can be found on low hanging branches and leaves. The snake is a predator and preys on small mammals, frogs, and lizards. Atheris hispida uses its venom to kill its prey and then ingests it. It is mostly a nocturnal creature. The females of the species can give birth to 12 baby snakes at lengths of about 6in in length. Atheris hispida has many different coloration patterns from green, blue, yellow, black, red, and orange. As a snake it does not maintain its own body temperature, and so it must bask in the sun to support its needed temperature. I really liked this animal even though I usually do not like snakes because of its unusual appearance. I found that it looked really cool with its scales that are not smooth, and with the different coloration patterns that it had. The snake also uses its bright coloration as a warning to other animals to not mess with it which is why many venomous species are bright and easy to see, when people would think that most predators would want to hide from prey.
References
Atheris hispida hd wallpapers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2016, from http://www.hdwallpapersnews.com/top-10-most-dangerous-snakes.html/atheris-hispida-hd-wallpapers
Bree, M. (n.d.). African hairy bush viper. Retrieved September 8, 2016, from http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/Atheris_hispida#Behavior
Glaucus atlanticus- the blue dragon. (2013, April 15). Retrieved September 8, 2016, from http://amazinglist.net/2013/04/glaucus-atlanticus-the-blue-dragon/
Hairy bush viper. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2016, from http://www.pet-snake.com/hairy-bush-viper.html
Jameson-Gould, J. (2011, July 13). Blue sea slug. Retrieved September 8, 2016, from http://www.realmonstrosities.com/2011/07/blue-sea-slug.html
Kostich, M. (2015, January 3). Atheris hispida. Retrieved September 8, 2016, from https://www.pinterest.com/alexanebrun/atheris-hispida/
Muema, C. (2015, August 9). Atheris hispida. Retrieved September 8, 2016, from https://accordingtomuema.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/atheris-hispida/