Atractaspis duerdeni | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Atractaspididae |
Genus: | Atractaspis |
Species: | A. duerdeni
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Binomial name | |
Atractaspis duerdeni
Gough, 1907
|
Atractaspis duerdeni, commonly known as the beaked burrowing asp, [2] Duerden's burrowing asp, [3] and Duerden's stiletto snake, [2] is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. [4] The species is native to southern Africa.
The specific epithet, duerdeni, is in honor of James Edwin Duerden (1865–1937) of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa. [5] [6]
A. duerdeni is found in southeastern Botswana, Namibia, and northern South Africa. [2]
The preferred natural habitat of A. duerdeni is savanna, at altitudes of 850–1,600 m (2,790–5,250 ft). [1]
In his original description Gough described A. duerdeni as being cream-colored above and below, referring to a faded specimen stored in alcohol. [5] In life A. duerdeni is uniformly blackish-brown or gray dorsally, and it is white or creamish-pink ventrally. [3] The dorsal scales are in 21 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 199; the anal is entire; and the subcaudals number 22, all except the first entire. The snout is prominent and subcuneiform. The rostral has a rounded horizontal edge, and the portion visible from above is a little longer than its distance from the frontal. [5] Females may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 51 cm (20 in), and males, which are smaller, may attain 44 cm (17 in) SVL. [3]
A. duerdeni preys upon sleeping lizards and snakes. [3]
A venomous species, A. duerdeni can inflict a serious bite requiring medical attention, but no human fatality has been recorded. [3]
Atractaspis duerdeni | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Atractaspididae |
Genus: | Atractaspis |
Species: | A. duerdeni
|
Binomial name | |
Atractaspis duerdeni
Gough, 1907
|
Atractaspis duerdeni, commonly known as the beaked burrowing asp, [2] Duerden's burrowing asp, [3] and Duerden's stiletto snake, [2] is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. [4] The species is native to southern Africa.
The specific epithet, duerdeni, is in honor of James Edwin Duerden (1865–1937) of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa. [5] [6]
A. duerdeni is found in southeastern Botswana, Namibia, and northern South Africa. [2]
The preferred natural habitat of A. duerdeni is savanna, at altitudes of 850–1,600 m (2,790–5,250 ft). [1]
In his original description Gough described A. duerdeni as being cream-colored above and below, referring to a faded specimen stored in alcohol. [5] In life A. duerdeni is uniformly blackish-brown or gray dorsally, and it is white or creamish-pink ventrally. [3] The dorsal scales are in 21 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 199; the anal is entire; and the subcaudals number 22, all except the first entire. The snout is prominent and subcuneiform. The rostral has a rounded horizontal edge, and the portion visible from above is a little longer than its distance from the frontal. [5] Females may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 51 cm (20 in), and males, which are smaller, may attain 44 cm (17 in) SVL. [3]
A. duerdeni preys upon sleeping lizards and snakes. [3]
A venomous species, A. duerdeni can inflict a serious bite requiring medical attention, but no human fatality has been recorded. [3]