Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Order Squamata Scientific name Micrelaps boettgeri | Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes Rank Species | |
Similar Micrelaps, Aparallactus lunulatus, Micrelaps muelleri, Aparallactus, Amblyodipsas | ||
Micrelaps boettgeri, commonly known as Boettger's two-headed snake, is a species of venomous rear-fanged snake in the Atractaspididae family. It is endemic to Africa.
Contents
Etymology
The specific name, boettgeri, is in honor of German herpetologist Oskar Boettger, author of the genus Micrelaps.
Geographic range
Boettger's two-headed snake is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda.
Description
Dorsally, blackish brown, each scale with a terminal round white spot. Upper surface of head and nape of neck black. Ventrals edged with white.
The type specimen, a female, is 23.5 cm (9 1⁄4 in) in total length, including the tail which is 2 cm (3⁄4 in) long.
Dorsal scales smooth, in 15 rows at midbody (in 17 rows on neck). Ventrals 203-221; anal plate divided; subcaudals 22-23, also divided (in two rows).
Portion of rostral visible from above as long as its distance from the frontal. Internasals slightly broader than long, shorter than the prefrontals. Frontal small, 1½ times as long as broad, as long as its distance from the rostral, much shorter than the parietals. One postocular. Temporals 1+1. Seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye, fifth forming a suture with the parietal. Four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. Two pairs of chin shields, the anterior pair and the posterior pair subequal in size.