''Amblyodipsas rodhaini'', commonly known as Rodhain's purple-glossed 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 ...
of
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
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
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 ...
.
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found 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 found elsew ...
to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
.[
]
Etymology
Both the specific name, ''rodhaini'', and the common name, Rodhain's purple-glossed snake, are in honor of Belgian physician and zoologist Jérome Alphonse Hubert Rodhain (1876–1956).[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Amblyodipsas rodhaini'', p. 224).]
Reproduction
''A. rodhaini'' is oviparous
Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...
.[
]
References
Further reading
* de Witte GF (1930). "''Un serpent du Congo Belge'' (Rhinocalamus rhodaini sp. n.)". ''Revue de zoologie et de botanique africaines'' 19 (1): 1-3. (''Rhinocalamus rhodaini'' ic new species). (in French).
*de Witte GF, Laurent RF (1947). "''Revision de une groupe de Colubridae africains: genres'' Calamelaps, Miodon, Aparallactus, ''et formes affines'' ". ''Mémoires du Musée Royal d'Histoire Naturelle de Belgique, Série Deuxième'' 29: 1-134. (''Calamelaps rodhaini'', new combination). (in French).
* Branch, Bill (2014). ''A Photographic Guide to Snakes other Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa, New Edition''. Cape Town: Random House Struik. 160 pp. . (''Amblyodipsas rodhaini'', p. 67).
Atractaspididae
Snakes of Africa
Reptiles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Endemic fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Taxa named by Gaston-François de Witte
Reptiles described in 1930
{{Alethinophidia-stub