Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Atractaspis Higher classification Burrowing asps Order Scaled reptiles | Subphylum Vertebrata Family Atractaspididae Phylum Chordata Rank Genus | |
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Lower classifications Small‑scaled burrowing asp, Atractaspis bibronii, Atractaspis engaddensis, Atractaspis corpulenta, Atractaspis irregularis | ||
Snake mole viper atractaspis engaddensis hunting israel
Atractaspis is a genus of venomous snakes found in Africa. Currently, 15 species are recognized by ITIS. Others recognize 19 species. 16 are listed here.
Contents
- Snake mole viper atractaspis engaddensis hunting israel
- Common names
- Geographic range
- Description
- Species
- References
Common names
Burrowing vipers, burrowing asps, mole vipers, stiletto snakes, side-stabbing snakes.
Geographic range
Found mostly in subsaharan Africa, with a limited distribution in the Jordan valley in Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula.
Description
Venom fangs enormously developed; a few teeth on the palatines, none on the pterygoids; mandibles edentulous anteriorly, with 2 or 3 very small teeth in the middle of the dentary bone. Postfrontal bone absent. Head small, not distinct from neck, covered with large symmetrical shields; nostril between 2 nasals; no loreal; eye minute, with round pupil. Body cylindrical; dorsal scales smooth, without apical pits, in 17 to 37 rows; ventrals rounded. Tail short; subcaudals either single or in two rows.
Species
*) Not including the nominate subspecies.
