Bitis worthingtoni, also known commonly as the Kenya horned viper and the Kenyan horned viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic Kenya. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
The specific name, worthingtoni, is in honor of British zoologist Edgar Barton Worthington, collector of the first specimen.
Common names for B. worthingtoni include Kenya horned viper and Kenyan horned viper.
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
Venom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
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starts withB. worthingtoni usually grows to a total length (including tail) of 20 to 40 cm (7.9 to 15.7 in), with a maximum total length of 50 cm (20 in).
The preferred natural habitats of B. worthingtoni are grassland, rocky areas, savanna, and shrubland. B. worthingtoni is restricted to Kenya's high central Rift Valley at elevations of 1,500–2,500 metres (4,900–8,200 ft). The type locality given for B. worthingtoni is the "shore of Lake Naivasha ".
B. worthingtoni is viviparous.
In 2004, a proposal was submitted by Kenya to have B. worthingtoni listed on CITES Appendix II. The actual status of the species was unknown, but it was reasoned that the Kenyan proposal was justified due to the species' restricted geographic range, habitat loss, demand by reptile collectors and the existence of illegal trade. In 2019, B. worthingtoni was listed as "Vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
