Subphylum Vertebrata Scientific name Causus bilineatus | Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes Rank Species | |
Similar Causinae, Causus defilippii, Causus resimus, Causus maculatus, Echis hughesi | ||
Causus bilineatus is a venomous viper species endemic to south central Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. Common names include lined night adder and two-striped night adder.
Contents
Description
The average total length (body + tail) is 30-50 cm (about 12-20 inches) with a reported maximum of 65 cm (26 in).
The head is slightly distinct from the neck, while the snout is fairly long and tapering. Midbody there are 15-18 rows of dorsal scales that are weakly keeled and have a soft and velvety appearance. The ventral scales number 122-141 in males and 128-144 in females. There are 18-30 subcaudals.
The color pattern consists of an ash to auburn to brown ground color, overlaid with numerous irregular or vaguely rectangular black dorsal patches. These patches lie within two distinct and narrow pale stripes that run the length of the body. The belly color is dark to dark cream.
Geographic range
Angola, northern Zambia, DR Congo (Shaba Province) and Rwanda.
The type locality is given by Boulenger (1905) as "between Benguella and Bihé" (Angola). Bocage (1895) listed "Duque de Bragança, Quissange, Caconda, and Huilla" (Angola) for the localities.
Habitat
Occurs in moist savanna, forest-savanna environments, and swampy habitats. Wild-caught specimens found to have eaten clawed frogs, Xenopus, suggest a more aquatic nature than other species.
Feeding
Preys mostly upon toads and frogs, particularly the clawed frog, Xenopus.