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.

Etymology

The specific epithet, duerdeni, is in honor of James Edwin Duerden (1865–1937) of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa.^[5][6]

Geographic range

A. duerdeni is found in southeastern Botswana, Namibia, and northern South Africa.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. duerdeni is savanna, at altitudes of 850–1,600 m (2,790–5,250 ft).^[1]

Description

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]

Behavior

A. duerdeni is fossorial.^[1]

Diet

A. duerdeni preys upon sleeping lizards and snakes.^[3]

Reproduction

A. duerdeni is oviparous.^[2]

Venom

A venomous species, A. duerdeni can inflict a serious bite requiring medical attention, but no human fatality has been recorded.^[3]

References

Atractaspis duerdeni Atractaspis generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Lamprophiidae familian sailkatuta dago.

Erreferentziak

• TIGR Reptile Database in Species 2000 and ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist

Ikus, gainera

• Atractaspis
• Lamprophiidae

Atractaspis duerdeni est une espèce de serpents de la famille des Lamprophiidae^[1].

Répartition

Cette espèce se rencontre dans le Transvaal en Afrique du Sud, dans le sud-ouest du Botswana et en Namibie^[1].

Description

C'est un serpent venimeux.

Étymologie

Cette espèce est nommée en l'honneur de James Edwin Duerden.

Publication originale

• Gough, 1907 : Description of a new species of Atractaspis collected at Serowe, North Eastern Kalahari. Records of the Albany Museum, vol. 2, p. 178-179.

Notes et références