[3] The body is covered with elongated, heavily keeled dorsal scales that give this animal a unique 'shaggy' look, almost bristly in appearance.

[8] Central and East Africa: northern and eastern DR Congo, southwestern Uganda, west Kenya, and northwestern Tanzania.

[7] More specifically, Spawls & Branch (1995) describe the distribution as isolated populations in Kivu and Orientale Provinces in DR Congo, southeastern Ruwenzori in Uganda and the Kakamega Forest in western Kenya.

[5] Capable of climbing reeds and stalks, this species is often found basking on top of flowers and terminal leaves.

Toxicity of individual specimens within the same species and subspecies can vary greatly based on several factors, including geographical region.

A bite can be fatal to humans without access to proper first aid and subsequent antivenom treatment.

Until recently, their venom has often been regarded as less toxic than that of many other species, perhaps because bites are uncommon, but this turned out not to be the case.