:''Common names:'' Transvaal quill-snouted snake, Speckled quill-snouted snake
''Xenocalamus transvaalensis'' is a
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), ...
of mildly
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 ...
rear-fanged
snake
Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have s ...
in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
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
...
. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Geographic range
''X. transvaalensis'' is found in
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory part of the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the sou ...
, southern
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...
,
Republic of 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 ...
(former
Northern Transvaal
Northern may refer to the following:
Geography
* North, a point in direction
* Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe
* Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States
* Northern Province, Sri Lanka
* Northern Range, a ra ...
and former
Zululand), and
Zimbabwe
file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map
Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...
.
[. www.reptile-database.org.]
Description
''X. transvaalensis'' is black
dorsally
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position provi ...
, and white ventrally. Males may attain a total length (including tail) of ; females, .
[ Branch, Bill (1998). ''Field Guide to the Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. p. 64.]
Reproduction
In summer an adult female ''X. transvaalensis'' may lay two elongated eggs, 28 mm x 6 mm (1 1/16 in x 3/16 in).
[
]
References
Further reading
* Methuen PA (1919). "Descriptions of a new snake from the Transvaal, together with a new diagnosis and key of the genus ''Xenocalamus'', and of some Batrachia from Madagascar". ''Proc. Zool. Soc. London'' 1919: 349–355. (''Xenocalamus transvaalensis'', new species).
External links
iNaturalist page
Atractaspididae
Reptiles described in 1919
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Alethinophidia-stub