The Albany adder (''Bitis albanica'') is a

viper The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs tha ...

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 ...

. It was previously considered a subspecies of ''

Bitis cornuta The many-horned adder (''Bitis cornuta'') is a viper species. It is found in certain rocky desert areas, mostly along the Atlantic coast of southern Africa, in western South Africa and southwestern Namibia. It has characteristic tufts of "horns" ...

''. Its range is restricted to eastern and southern

Cape Province The Province of the Cape of Good Hope ( af, Provinsie Kaap die Goeie Hoop), commonly referred to as the Cape Province ( af, Kaapprovinsie) and colloquially as The Cape ( af, Die Kaap), was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequen ...

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 ...

. Like all vipers, it is

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 ...

. It is extremely rare, and had been thought potentially extinct until four live specimens and one

road kill Roadkill is an animal or animals that have been struck and killed by drivers of motor vehicles on highways. Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) have increasingly been the topic of academic research to understand the causes, and how it can be mi ...

were found in late 2016 or early 2017. Only 12 individuals have been identified since the species was discovered in 1937.

Description

This subspecies does not have the "horns" that are characteristic of the

nominate race In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

, '' B. c. cornuta'', although it does have prominent bumps over the eyes. The coloration is brown to reddish brown, and they may also lack the distinctive pattern of the typical form.Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. ''The Dangerous Snakes of Africa''. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. . This is a small adder. Maximum recorded snout to vent length (SVL) for males is ; maximum recorded SVL for females is . Branch, Bill. 2004. ''Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa''. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. . (''Bitis albanica'', p. 118 + Plate 99.)

Taxonomy

Branch (1999) elevated ''B. c. albanica'' to species level: ''Bitis albanica''.Viperidae - Viperinae - 1999 Publications
a
Wolfgang Wüster homepage
, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor. Accessed 28 August 2006. It is commonly known as the Albany adder, eastern hornsman adder, or eastern many-horned adder.Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. ''True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers''. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. .''

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Eastern and southern Cape Province in South Africa. The type locality is listed as "The Dene (Port Elizabeth), Addo, and from dry scrub districts near Grahamstown such as Brak Kloof, farm Springvale, and Kleinpoort near Committees ... Eastern Cape Province, South Africa."

Description

Taxonomy

Distribution and habitat

References

Further reading