Forest Night Adder

About the Forest Night Adder

Causus lichtensteinii is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to western, central, and eastern Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

The specific name, or epithet, lichtensteinii, honors German herpetologist Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein. Common names for C. lichtensteinii include Lichtenstein's night adder, the forest night adder, and the olive-green viper.

Adults of C. lichtensteinii average 30–55 cm (12–22 in) in total length (tail included), with a reported maximum of 70 cm (28 in). The head is not very wide, and the snout is blunt. The eye is surrounded by a circumorbital ring of 5–7 scales. There are 6 supralabials and 9 sublabials. The temporals number 2+3 or sometimes 2+2, with the first and second upper temporals being as long together as the first lower one. Loreals: 1+1. Midbody there are 15 rows of weakly keeled dorsal scales that have a velvety texture. The anal scale is single. There are 128–152 ventral scales. The subcaudals number 18–22 in males and 17–19 in females.

The color pattern consists of a greenish or olive ground... Wikipedia →