''Amblyodipsas microphthalma'', also known as the eastern purple-glossed snake or white-lipped snake, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

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 vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...

in the

Atractaspididae The Atractaspididae (atractaspidids) are a family of venomous snakes found in Africa and the Middle East, commonly called mole vipers, stiletto snakes, or burrowing asps. Currently, 12 genera are recognized. Description This family includes many ...

family..

Geographic range

It is found in southern

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

and the northeastern

Republic of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

Description

Dorsally dark brown. Ventrally white, including chin and tail, with a dark brown stripe down the middle of the belly. The white of the outer edges of the ventrals extends onto the adjacent first two rows of dorsal scales on each side of the body. Rostral broader than long, portion visible from above ⅔ its distance from the frontal. Frontal large, nearly twice as long as broad, acutely pointed behind, much longer than its distance from the end of the snout. Only four upper labials, second and third entering the eye, fourth largest and in contact with the parietal. Dorsal scales smooth, without pits, arranged in 15 rows. Ventrals 142; anal plate divided; subcaudals 19, divided. Total length ; tail . Boulenger, G.A. 1896. ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III''. London. p. 244.

References

* Bianconi, G.G. 1852. ''Specimina zoologica mosambicana''. p. 94, plate xii, figure 1.

External Links

iNaturalist page
Atractaspididae Snakes of Africa Reptiles of Mozambique Reptiles of South Africa Taxa named by Giovanni Giuseppe Bianconi Reptiles described in 1852 {{Alethinophidia-stub