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 Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

are recognized.

Description

This family includes many genera formerly classed in other families and subfamilies, on the basis of

fang A fang is a long, pointed tooth. In mammals, a fang is a modified maxillary tooth, used for biting and tearing flesh. In snakes, it is a specialized tooth that is associated with a venom gland (see snake venom). Spiders also have external fang ...

type. It includes fangless ( aglyphous), rear-fanged ( opisthoglyphous), fixed-fanged ( proteroglyphous), and viper-like ( solenoglyphous) species. Early molecular and physiological data linking this subfamily to others were ambiguous and often contradictory, which means the taxonomy of this subfamily has been highly contentious. The nominate family, Atractaspididae, has itself been moved to and from other taxa, such as potentially forming a trichotomy with Elapidae and Colubridae, reinforcing the ambiguity of this subfamily.

Geographic range

This subfamily is found in Africa and the Middle East.Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. .Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. .Parker HW, Grandison AGC. 1977. Snakes -- a natural history. Second Edition. British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press. 108 pp. 16 plates. LCCCN 76-54625. (cloth), (paper).

Venom

Many of these snakes are inoffensive or far too small to envenomate a person effectively. However, some can inflict severe tissue necrosis; e.g. if the victim's thumb is bitten, the tip of that digit may be lost. Relapses may occur long after the bite. Very few deaths have resulted from accidents with these snakes, although large individuals of '' Atractaspis microlepidota'' and other long-glanded species are very likely to be dangerous. Some of the long-fanged species are able to stab their prey (or an unfortunate human) even while their mouths are closed, and the typical grasp used by herpetologists to securely hold venomous snakes is not safe for this group.Deufel and Cundall (2003). ''Feeding in Atractaspis (Serpentes: Atractaspididae): a study in conflicting functional constraints.'' Zoology 106: 43-61. This ability to stab sideways even with a closed mouth is the basis for an English name used for some of them: "side-stabbing snakes".

Genera

Taxonomy

This family was previously classified as a subfamily of the

Colubridae Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on ever ...

: the Aparallactinae.

Gallery

File:Amblyodipsas_microphthalma.jpg, Amblyodipsas type species; eastern purple-glossed snake (A. microphthalma) File:Aparallactus_capensis.jpg, Aparallactus type species; cape centipede-eater (A. capensis) File:Atractaspis_bibronii_full_body.jpg, Atractaspis type species; southern stiletto snake (A. bibronii) File:Homoroselaps_lacteus.jpg, Homoroselaps type species; spotted harlequin snake (H. lacteus) File:Macrelaps_microlepidotus_head.jpg, Macrelaps type species; Natal black snake (M. microlepidotus) File:מחרוזן הטבעות (דו-גוני).jpg, Micrelaps type species; Müller's snake (M. muelleri)

References

External links

*
Atractaspids at Life is Short but Snakes are Long

Stiletto snakes at Tetrapod Zoology
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q840931 Tetrapod subfamilies Taxa named by Albert Günther