The Albany adder (''Bitis albanica'') is a

viper Vipers are snakes in the family Viperidae, found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, New Zealand, Ireland, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipe ...

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

. It was previously considered a subspecies of '' Bitis cornuta''. Its range is restricted to eastern and southern

Cape Province The Province of the Cape of Good Hope (), commonly referred to as the Cape Province () and colloquially as The Cape (), was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa. It encompassed the old Cape Co ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. Like all vipers, it is

venomous Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

. It is extremely rare, and had been thought potentially extinct until four live specimens and one road kill were found in late 2016 or early 2017. Only 12 individuals have been identified since the species was discovered in 1937.

Description

This subspecies does not have the "horns" that are characteristic of the

nominate race In biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. ...

, '' B. c. cornuta'', although it does have prominent bumps over the eyes. The coloration is brown to reddish brown, and they may also lack the distinctive pattern of the typical form.Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. ''The Dangerous Snakes of Africa''. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. . This is a small adder. Maximum recorded snout to vent length (SVL) for males is ; maximum recorded SVL for females is .

Taxonomy

Branch (1999) elevated ''B. c. albanica'' to species level: ''Bitis albanica''.Viperidae - Viperinae - 1999 Publications
a
Wolfgang Wüster homepage
, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor. Accessed 28 August 2006. It is commonly known as the Albany adder, eastern hornsman adder, or eastern many-horned adder.Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. .

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Eastern and southern Cape Province in South Africa. They are also found in succulent thickets in the Algoa Bay area of the Eastern Cape, occurring between 50 and 500 m above sea level. The type locality is listed as "The Dene (Port Elizabeth), Addo, and from dry scrub districts near Grahamstown such as Brak Kloof, farm Springvale, and Kleinpoort near Committees ... Eastern Cape Province, South Africa."

Description

Taxonomy

Distribution and habitat

References

Further reading