ARBOREAL HABITS AND VIPER BIOLOGY IN THE AFRICANRAINFOREST: THE ECOLOGY OF ATHERIS SQUAMIGER

摘要: Aspects of the ecology arboreal viper Atheris squamiger are studied. A. is common in southeastern Nigeria, where it was observed mainly secondary forest patches (both dry and flooded) shrublands, frequently also primary patches. Conversely, rarely found strongly altered habitats (farmlands, plantations, suburbs). Adult sex ratio nearly equal, proportion immatures examined sample did not differ significantly between sexes. The two sexes attained similar mean sizes, but females had modal median lengths higher than males. Maximum male length 67.0 cm, maximum female was70.5 cm. Juveniles contained food gut much more adults. fed primarily upon small mammals, scincid lizards birds. No frogs were taken. There an ontogenetic shift taxonomical dietary preferences, with juveniles taking only endothermic ectothermic prey (lizards), a...