Atheris ceratophora

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	VIPERIDAE

Scientific Name:

Atheris ceratophora

Species Authority:

Werner, 1895

Common Name/s:

English

–

Usambara Eyelash Viper

Synonym/s:

Atheris ceratophorus Werner, 1895 [orth. error]

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable B1ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2010
Assessor/s:	Spawls, S. & Joger, U.
Reviewer/s:	Böhm, M., Collen, B. & Ram, M. (Sampled Red List Index Coordinating Team)
Contributor/s:	De Silva, R., Milligan, H.T., Wearn, O.R., Wren, S., Zamin, T., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Lewis, S., Lintott, P. & Powney, G.
Justification: Atheris ceratophora has been assessed as Vulnerable owing to its restricted range, severely fragmented population and a continuing decline in habitat quality. This species has an extent of occurrence of approximately 15,000 km² and is only found within montane rainforest, in an area where deforestation is prevalent.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is an Eastern Arc endemic found in the Usambara and Udzungwa Mountains. There are also reports that it is found in the Uluguru Mountains. This species is found between 700 and 2,000 m above sea level. The area in which this species is distributed is approximately 15,161 km².
Countries:	Native: Tanzania, United Republic of
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is known to be rare.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is restricted to montane rainforests. Emmrich (1997) reports that it is very difficult to breed this species in captivity.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is found within a fragmented habitat that is threatened by high rates of degradation and deforestation, due to agriculture, logging and increasing human population.

Major Threat(s):

This species is found within a fragmented habitat that is threatened by high rates of degradation and deforestation, due to agriculture, logging and increasing human population.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. It is found within the Udzungwa Forest National Park and Mazumbai Forest Reserve. Efforts to reduce further habitat loss are required (i.e. protected areas). Population and habitat research and population monitoring are necessary to establish the effects that a fragmented, disturbed environment is having on the population size of the species.

Conservation Actions:

There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. It is found within the Udzungwa Forest National Park and Mazumbai Forest Reserve. Efforts to reduce further habitat loss are required (i.e. protected areas). Population and habitat research and population monitoring are necessary to establish the effects that a fragmented, disturbed environment is having on the population size of the species.

Citation:	Spawls, S. & Joger, U. 2010. Atheris ceratophora. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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