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Atractaspididae
The Atractaspididae (atractaspidids) are a Family (biology), family of venomous snakes found in Africa and the Middle East, commonly called mole vipers, stiletto snakes, or burrowing asps. Currently, 12 genus, genera are recognized. Description This family includes many genera formerly classed in other families and subfamilies, on the basis of fang type. It includes fangless (aglypha, aglyphous), rear-fanged (opisthoglypha, opisthoglyphous), fixed-fanged (proteroglypha, proteroglyphous), and viper-like (solenoglypha, solenoglyphous) species. Early molecular and physiological data linking this subfamily to others were ambiguous and often contradictory, which means the Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of this subfamily has been highly contentious. The nominate family, Atractaspididae, has itself been moved to and from other taxa, such as potentially forming a trichotomy with Elapidae and Colubridae, reinforcing the ambiguity of this subfamily. Geographic range This subfamily is found i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Atractaspis Microlepidota
The small-scaled burrowing asp (''Atractaspis microlepidota'') is a species of Atractaspididae, atractaspidid snake from West Africa. Geographic range ''Atractaspis microlepidota'' is found in Senegal, Gambia, southern Mauritania, and western Mali. Notice that this species was formerly considered more widespread; forms and subspecies now considered distinct have been included in ''Atractaspis microlepidota''. Description ''Atractaspis microlepidota'' is black in color, with the ventral (belly) side having a lighter, “flatter” tone than that of the dorsal (back) side. The body scales are smooth. The head is flattened and contains a blunt snout. The neck of ''Atractaspis'' is not well defined, and the tail is relatively short. One of the differences between ''Atractaspis'' and Viperidae is the fact that the head of ''Atractaspis'' is covered in plates, rather than small scales like those of Viperidae. The average size is about 18 inches (45 cm), with some growing up to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Venomous Snakes
''Venomous snakes'' are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow or grooved fangs, although some venomous snakes lack well-developed fangs. Common venomous snakes include the families Elapidae, Viperidae, Atractaspididae, and some of the Colubridae. The toxicity of venom is mainly indicated by murine , while multiple factors are considered to judge the potential danger to humans. Other important factors for risk assessment include the likelihood that a snake will bite, the quantity of venom delivered with the bite, the efficiency of the delivery mechanism, and the location of a bite on the body of the victim. Snake venom may have both neurotoxic and hemotoxic properties. There are about 600 venomous snake species in the world. Evolution The evolutionary history of venomous snakes can be traced ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homoroselaps
''Homoroselaps'' is a genus of mildly venomous snakes of the family Atractaspididae The Atractaspididae (atractaspidids) are a Family (biology), family of venomous snakes found in Africa and the Middle East, commonly called mole vipers, stiletto snakes, or burrowing asps. Currently, 12 genus, genera are recognized. Description ..... Species * '' Homoroselaps dorsalis'' (Smith, 1849) - striped harlequin snake, striped dwarf garter snake * '' Homoroselaps lacteus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) - spotted harlequin snake References {{Taxonbar, from=Q5085060 Homoroselaps Snake genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hypoptophis
:''Common names:'' African bighead snake, wedge-snouted burrowing snake. ''Hypoptophis'' is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged ( opisthoglyphous) mildly venomous snake species, ''Hypoptophis wilsonii''. The species, which is endemic to Africa, is in the subfamily Aparallactinae of the family Atractaspididae. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Geographic range ''Hypoptophis wilsonii'' is found in Angola, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), and Zambia. The type locality is "Inkongo, on the Sankuru River, in the Kasai Province of the Congo". Boulenger GA (1908). "Description of Three new Snakes from Africa". ''Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Eighth Series'' 2: 93-94. (''Hypoptophis wilsonii'', new species). Description (diagnosis) of genus The genus ''Hypoptophis'' exhibits the following characters. The maxilla is very short, with four teeth gradually increasing in size, followed, after an interspace, by two lar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Atractaspis
:''Common names: burrowing vipers, burrowing asps, mole vipers, Spawls S, Branch B (1995). ''The Dangerous Snakes of Africa: Natural History, Species Directory, Venoms and Snakebite''. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. . more.'' ''Atractaspis'' is a genus of venomous snakes in the family Atractaspidae, also known as the stiletto snakes. The genus is endemic to Africa and the Middle East. The genus contains 15 species that are recognized by ITIS. Others recognize as many as 21 species.. www.reptile-database.org. 23 are listed here. Common names Common names for snakes of the genus ''Atractaspis'' include burrowing vipers, burrowing asps, mole vipers, stiletto snakes, side-stabbing snakes, side-stabbers. "Side stabbing" refers to the snakes' uncommon ability to strike with the side of its head and inject venom with one protruding fang. Geographic range Species of the genus ''Atractaspis'' are found mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a limited distribution in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aparallactus
:''Common name: centipede eaters.'' ''Aparallactus'' is a genus of rear-fanged mildly venomous snakes in the family Atractaspididae. The genus is endemic to Africa. 11 species are recognized as being valid. Description Species in the genus ''Aparallactus'' have a short maxilla, with 6-9 small teeth followed by a large grooved fang situated below the eye. The anterior mandibular teeth are the longest. The head is small, not distinct from the neck. The eye is small, with a round pupil. The nasal is entire or divided. There is no loreal scale. The body is cylindrical. The tail is moderate or short. The dorsal scales are smooth, without pits, and are arranged in 15 rows. The ventrals are rounded. The subcaudals are single (not divided nor paired). Boulenger GA (1896). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ....'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Macrelaps
''Macrelaps'' (or KwaZulu-Natal black snake) is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) venomous snake species, ''M. microlepidotus'', endemic to South Africa. No subspecies are currently recognised. Description (diagnosis) of genus Maxillary short, with four moderately large teeth, followed by a very large grooved fang situated below the eye. Anterior mandibular teeth enlarged, third to fifth longest. Head small, not distinct from neck. Eye minute, with round pupil. Nasal divided. No loreal. No preocular. Prefrontal entering the eye. Body cylindrical; tail short. Dorsal scales smooth, without pits, in 25 or 27 rows. Ventrals rounded; subcaudals single. Description of species ''Macrelaps microlepidotus'' is completely black dorsally and ventrally. It may attain in total length, with a tail long. Smooth dorsal scales arranged in 25 or 27 rows. Ventrals 163–166; anal plate entire; subcaudals 37–48, also entire. Portion of rostral visible from above ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chilorhinophis
:''Common name: two-headed snakes.'' ''Chilorhinophis'' is a genus of mildly venomous snakes endemic to Africa. Currently, three species are recognized. Species ''*) Not including the nominate subspecies.'' ) Type species. See also * Snakebite. References Further reading * Branch, Bill (2004). ''Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Third Revised Edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. . (Genus ''Chilorhinophis'', p. 67). * Loveridge A (1958). "Revision of Five African Snake Genera". ''Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College'' 119: 1–198. (Genus ''Chilorhinophis'', pp. 168–169). *Werner F (1907). "''Ergebnisse der mit Subvention aus der Erbschaft Treitl unternommenen zoologischen Forschungreise Dr. Franz Werner's in den ägyptischen Sudan und nach Nord-Uganda. XII. Die Reptilien und Amphibien'' ". ''Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Klasse der Kaise ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brachyophis
''Brachyophis'' is a monotypic genus created for the rear-fanged mildly venomous snake species, ''Brachyophis revoili'', commonly known as Revoil's short snake, which is endemic to Eastern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized as being valid. Description (diagnosis) of genus The maxillary is very short, with two or three small teeth, followed, after an interspace, by a large grooved fang. The mandibular teeth increase in length to the third. The head is small and is not distinct from the neck. The snout is depressed and sharp-edged. The eye is minute, with a round pupil. The nostril is pierced in a single nasal, which does not touch the rostral, the internasal forming a suture with the first upper labial. There is no loreal, and there are no temporals. A large azygous occipital shield is present. The body is remarkably short, and is cylindrical. The tail is extremely short. The dorsal scales are smooth, without apical pits, and are arranged in 15 rows at midbody. The ven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amblyodipsas
''Amblyodipsas'' is a genus of snakes found in Africa. Currently, 9 species are recognized.. These snakes are often known as purple-glossed snakes or glossy snakes. Although rear-fanged, all species are considered harmless, but their venom has not been well studied. They should not be confused with the glossy snakes of the genus ''Arizona'', which are found in North America. Description Maxillary very short, with five teeth gradually increasing in size and followed, after an interspace, by a large grooved fang situated below the eye. Mandibular teeth decreasing in size posteriorly. Head small, not distinct from neck; eye minute, with round pupil; nostril in a single very small nasal; no internasals; no loreal; no preocular; no anterior temporal. Body cylindrical. Dorsal scales smooth, without pits. Tail very short, obtuse. Subcaudals in two rows. Boulenger, G.A. (1896). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Albert Boulenger
George Albert Boulenger (19 October 1858 – 23 November 1937) was a Belgian-British zoologist who described and gave scientific names to over 2,000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Boulenger was also an active botanist during the last 30 years of his life, especially in the study of roses. Life Boulenger was born in Brussels, Belgium, the only son of Gustave Boulenger, a Belgian public notary, and Juliette Piérart, from Valenciennes. He graduated in 1876 from the Free University of Brussels (1834–1969), Free University of Brussels with a degree in natural sciences, and worked for a while at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, as an assistant naturalist studying amphibians, reptiles, and fishes. He also made frequent visits during this time to the ''National Museum of Natural History (France), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle'' in Paris and the Natural History Museum, London, British Museum in London. Boulenger develop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Franz Werner
Franz Josef Maria Werner (15 August 1867 in Vienna – 28 February 1939 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist and explorer. Specializing as a herpetologist and entomologist, Werner described numerous species and other taxa of frogs, snakes, insects, and other organisms. His father introduced him at age six to reptiles and amphibians. A brilliant student, he corresponded often with George Albert Boulenger (1858–1937) and Oskar Boettger (1844–1910) who encouraged his studies with these animals. Werner obtained his doctorate in Vienna in 1890 and then after spending a year in Leipzig, began to teach at the Vienna Institute of Zoology. In 1919, he became tenured as a professor, maintaining this title until his retirement in 1933. Although working close to the Vienna Natural History Museum, he could not use their herpetological collections, after the death of its director, Franz Steindachner (1834–1919), who did not like Werner, and had barred him from accessing the collection ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
