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Atractaspididae
The Atractaspididae (atractaspidids) are a Family (biology), family of venomous snakes found in Africa and the Middle East, commonly called mole vipers, stiletto snakes, or burrowing asps. Currently, 12 genus, genera are recognized. Description This family includes many genera formerly classed in other families and subfamilies, on the basis of fang type. It includes fangless (aglypha, aglyphous), rear-fanged (opisthoglypha, opisthoglyphous), fixed-fanged (proteroglypha, proteroglyphous), and viper-like (solenoglypha, solenoglyphous) species. Early molecular and physiological data linking this subfamily to others were ambiguous and often contradictory, which means the Taxonomy (biology), 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 i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Atractaspis Microlepidota
The small-scaled burrowing asp (''Atractaspis microlepidota'') is a species of Atractaspididae, atractaspidid snake from West Africa. Geographic range ''Atractaspis microlepidota'' is found in Senegal, Gambia, southern Mauritania, and western Mali. Notice that this species was formerly considered more widespread; forms and subspecies now considered distinct have been included in ''Atractaspis microlepidota''. Description ''Atractaspis microlepidota'' is black in color, with the ventral (belly) side having a lighter, “flatter” tone than that of the dorsal (back) side. The body scales are smooth. The head is flattened and contains a blunt snout. The neck of ''Atractaspis'' is not well defined, and the tail is relatively short. One of the differences between ''Atractaspis'' and Viperidae is the fact that the head of ''Atractaspis'' is covered in plates, rather than small scales like those of Viperidae. The average size is about 18 inches (45 cm), with some growing up to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |