Kenya Montane Viper
Montatheris hindii
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyViperidae (Vipers)
- GenusMontatheris (Kenya Montane Vipers)
- SpeciesMontatheris hindii (Kenya Montane Viper)
About the Kenya Montane Viper
Montatheris is a monotypic genus created for the viper species, Montatheris hindii, a venomous snake also known by the common names Kenya mountain viper, Kenya montane viper, montane viper, and Hind's viper. This is a small terrestrial species endemic to Kenya. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid.
The specific name, hindii, is in honor of Sidney Langford Hinde, a British military medical officer and naturalist. M. hindii is a small species reaching an average total length (including tail) of 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) and a maximum total length of about 35 cm (14 in). The head is elongated and not very distinct from the neck, while the eyes are small and set in a rather forwards position. The dorsal scales are strongly keeled.
M. hindii is known only from isolated populations at high elevations on Mount Kenya and the moorlands of the Kinangop Plateau, Aberdare Mountains. The type locality listed is "Fort Hall, Kenya District, 4000 ft." Since Fort Hall is at an altitude of only 4,000 feet (1,219 meters), Loveridge (1957) questioned whether this was accurate.
M. hindii occurs at high elevations... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Kenya Montane Viper in Aberdare National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberdare National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Kenya Montane Viper in Aberdare National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Kenya Montane Viper sighting in Aberdare National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Kenya Montane Viper in Aberdare National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Kenya Montane Viper in Aberdare National Park in our monthly data.