Causus lichtensteinii

{{Speciesbox

| image =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Luiselli, L. |author-link=Luca Luiselli |author2=Wagner, P. |author2-link=Philipp Wagner |author3=Chirio, L. |author3-link=Laurent Chirio |author4=Trape, J.-F. |author4-link=Jean-François Trape |author5=Branch, W.R. |author5-link=William Roy Branch |author6=Zassi-Boulou, A.-G. |author6-link=Ange-Ghislain Zassi-Boulou |author7=Gonwouo, N.L. |author7-link=Nono Legrand Gonwouo |author8=Chippaux, J.-P. |author8-link=Jean-Philippe Chippaux |author9=Kusamba, C. |author9-link=Chifundera Kusamba |year=2021 |title=Causus lichtensteinii |volume=2021 |page=e.T13300938A13300947 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T13300938A13300947.en |access-date=24 January 2025}}

| genus = Causus

| species = lichtensteinii

| authority = (Jan, 1859)

| synonyms = {{specieslist

|Aspedilaps Lichtensteinii |
Jan, 1859

|Causus lichtensteinii |
— A.H.A. Duméril, 1859

|Aspedilaps (Causus) Lichtensteini |
— Jan, 1863

|Aspedilaps Lichtensteini |
— Jan & Sordelli, 1873

|Dinodipsas angulifera |
W. Peters, 1882

|Causus lichtensteinii |
— Boulenger, 1896

|Causus lichtensteini |
— de Witte, 1962

}}

| synonyms_ref = McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).

}}

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.{{ITIS |id=634837 |taxon=Causus lichtensteinii |access-date=19 June 2021}}

Etymology

The specific name, or epithet, lichtensteinii, honors German herpetologist Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein.{{NRDB species|genus=Causus|species=lichtensteinii |access-date=19 June 2021}}Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (Causus lichtensteini, p. 157).

Common names

Common names for C. lichtensteinii include Lichtenstein's night adder, the forest night adder,Spawls, Stephen; Branch, Bill (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa: Natural History, Species Directory, Venoms and Snakebite. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Publishing. 192 pp. {{ISBN|0-88359-029-8}}. and the olive-green viper.U.S. Navy (1991). Poisonous Snakes of the World. New York: United States Government / Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. {{ISBN|0-486-26629-X}}.

Description

Adults of C. lichtensteinii average {{convert|30|-|55|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length (tail included), with a reported maximum of {{convert|70|cm|in|abbr=on}}.

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 color overlaid with a series of dark narrow backward pointing chevrons running down the back. This pattern may be vague or developed fully into rhombic markings. The back of the neck has a characteristic white V-shape while the throat is black with yellow bands. Juvenile specimens are generally dark brown in color.

Geographic range

C. lichtensteinii is found from Guinea and Liberia eastward through Ghana to Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, south to northern Angola, DR Congo and northwestern Zambia, and east to Uganda and western Kenya.

The type locality is listed as "Côte-d'Or " [= Gold Coast, now Dominion of Ghana].Jan [G] (1859). "Additions et rectifications aux Plan et Prodrome de l' Iconographie descriptive des Ophidiens". Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée, 2e serie 11: 505–512. (Aspidelaps lichtensteinii, new species, p. 511). (in French).

Habitat

As opposed to other members of its genus, C. lichtensteinii is mostly found in pristine rain forests with little light filtering down to the forest floor. It tends to be found near water in swampy areas. In the Atewa Range Forest Reserve in Ghana it has been found at altitudes of up to {{convert|670|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Behavior

C. lichtensteinii is diurnal and mostly terrestrial. However, it is a good swimmer and has even colonized certain islands in Lake Victoria. When disturbed it puts on a hissing and puffing threat display similar to other members of the genus.Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. {{ISBN|0-89464-877-2}}.

Reproduction

C. lichtensteinii is oviparous. Clutch size is four to eight eggs.Spawls S, Howell K, Hinkel H, Menegon M (2018). Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London: Bloomsbury Natural History. 624 pp. {{ISBN|978-1472935618}}. (Causus lichtensteinii, pp. 571–572).

Venom

Little is known about the venom of C. lichtensteinii.