Biology:Angolan adder
| Angolan adder | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Bitis |
| Species: | B. heraldica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Bitis heraldica (Bocage, 1889)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Angolan adder (Bitis heraldica) is a venomous viper species found only in Angola, easily distinguished from B. caudalis by its heavily speckled belly and lack of any supraocular "horns".[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]
Taxonomy
The common name is Angolan adder[4][2]
Description
The maximum recorded total length (body + tail) is 405 mm (15.9 in).[2]
Distribution and habitat
It is found on the high plateau of central Angola.[1]
The type locality given is "sur les bords de la rivière Calae, l'un des affluents de Cunene, entre le 13o et 14o parallèle á l'est de Caconda." [Calai River (tributary of the Kunene), Cacanda, Angola.[1]
It commonly inhabits rocky mountain slopes.[2]
Behavior
Nothing is known of its behavior, as less than 20 specimens have ever been collected.[2]
Venom
Nothing is known of the venom composition, and no bites have ever been recorded.[2]
See also
- List of viperine species and subspecies
- Viperinae by common name
- Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN:1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN:1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN:0-88359-029-8.
- ↑ "Bitis heraldica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634954. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
- ↑ Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN:0-89464-877-2.
Further reading
- Bocage JVB du. 1889. Mélanges erpétologiques. II. Sur une Vipère apparemment nouvelle d'Angola. Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes, Academia Real das Sciencias de Lisboa, Segunda Série 1: 127-128. (Vipera heraldica, nov. sp.)
External links
- Bitis heraldica at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.
Wikidata ☰ Q2904908 entry
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