Spiny Bush Vipers or Atheris hispida is a venomous viper species endemic to Central Africa. It is known for its extremely keeled dorsal scales that give it a bristly appearance. No subspecies are currently recognized. Common names include rough-scaled bush viper, spiny bush viper, hairy bush viper, and more.
The habitat of spiny bush vipers includes rainforests, woodlands, and swamps. Because they are excellent climbers, they can often be found at heights between 2,900 and 7,800 feet. They are native to central Africa and are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, southwest Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. Their distribution has been described as isolated populations across these regions.
These snakes feed on small mammals, birds, lizards, and frogs. They hunt mostly in trees but can hunt for mammalian prey on the ground. They ambush their prey by hanging from trees or hiding in foliage and curling up into an S-shape before lunging at prey, killing them with their venom. Spiny bush vipers are nocturnal creatures, spending the daytime basking on top of flowers in small trees about 10 feet off the ground.
