Suborder Serpentes Higher classification Xenocalamus Order Scaled reptiles | Subphylum Vertebrata Family Atractaspididae Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
Scientific name Xenocalamus transvaalensis Similar Amblyodipsas, Prosymna, Cape wolf snake, Lycophidion, Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia | ||
Xenocalamus transvaalensis is a species of venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa. No subspecies are recognized.
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Geographic range
It is found in Botswana, southern Mozambique, Republic of South Africa (former Northern Transvaal and former Zululand), and Zimbabwe.
Description
Dorsum black; ventrum white. Males may attain 37 cm (14 1⁄2 in) in total length; females, 31.5 cm (12 3⁄8 in).
Conservation status
This species is listed as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (v2.3, 1994). This means that there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of the risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. This species may be well studied, and its biology well known, but appropriate data on abundance and/or distribution is lacking. Therefore, this not a category of threat or Lower Risk, but an indication that more information is required, as well as an acknowledgement of the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate. It is important to make positive use of whatever data are available. In many cases, great care should be exercised in choosing between DD and threatened status. If the range of the species is suspected to be relatively circumscribed, or if a considerable period of time has elapsed since the last record of the species, then threatened status may well be justified. Year assessed: 1996.
Reproduction
In summer the female lays two elongated eggs, 28 mm x 6 mm (1 1/16 in. x 3/16 in.).