Bitis peringueyi

Bitis peringueyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Bitis
Species:	B. peringueyi
Binomial name
Bitis peringueyi (Boulenger, 1888)
Synonyms
Vipera Peringueyi - Boulenger, 1888 Bitis peringueyi - Boulenger, 1896 Bitis peringueyi - Golay et al., 1993[1]

Common names: Peringuey's adder,^[2][3] Peringuey's desert adder, sidewinding adder,^[4] more.

Bitis peringueyi is a venomous viper species found in Namibia and southern Angola. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[5]

Description

A small snake with an average length of 20–25 cm and a maximum recorded length of 32 cm.^[4]

The head is short and flat with eyes located on top of the head—an adaptation for hunting. It is covered with strongly keeled scales, the smallest of which are located anteriorly. The eyes are separated by 6-9 scales, while each is surrounded by 10-13 scales. 2-4 scales separate the suborbitals from the supralabials. The latter number 10-14, the sublabials 10-13. The chin shields contact the first 2-4 sublabials.^[4]

The dorsal scales number 23-31 at midbody and 21-27 anteriorly. All are strongly keeled except for those bordering the ventrals, which are large and smooth. The ventrals number 117-144. There are 15-30 subcaudals that are usually keeled, particularly towards the tip. The anal plate is single.^[4]

The color pattern consists of a pale buff, chestnut brown to orange-brown, or sandy grayish ground color, overlaid with three longitudinal series of faint, elongate, gray to dark spots. The body is also stippled with an irregular pattern of pale and dark spots. The belly is usually whitish or dirty yellow. The tail is generally tan, but in 25% of specimens it is black.^[4]

Common names

Peringuey's adder,^[2][3] Peringuey's desert adder, sidewinding adder, Namib dwarf sand adder,^[4] dwarf puff adder,^[6] Namib desert sidewinding adder,^[7] dwarf sand adder, Namib dwarf adder,^[8] Namib desert viper.^[9]

Geographic range

The Namib Desert from southern Angola to Lüderitz, Namibia. The type locality is given as "Damaraland, 10 miles east of Walfisch Bay" [Namibia].^[1]

Behavior

An ambush hunter, it buries itself just beneath the surface of the sand with only its eyes and the tip of its tail exposed^[10] (individuals with black tail-tips employ caudal luring).^[4] When prey happens by, it is seized and envenomated.^[10]

Feeding

Its diet includes the lizards Aporosaura and Meroles, and the barking gecko Ptenopus. Aporosaura have a high water content and are an important source of water for these snakes.^[4]

See also

• List of viperine species and subspecies
• Viperinae by common name
• Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
• Snakebite

References

1. ^ ^{a b} McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
2. ^ ^{a b} Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
3. ^ ^{a b} Bitis peringueyi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
5. ^ "Bitis peringueyi". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634958. Retrieved 26 July 2006. 
6. ^ Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles -- Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0-7137-1704-1.
7. ^ SNA 020STA026 01 at Foto S.A.. Accessed 29 December 2006.
8. ^ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
9. ^ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
10. ^ ^{a b} Peringuey's Desert Adder (Bitis peringueyi) at The Colorado Herpetological Society. Accessed 18 March 2007.

Further reading

• Reiserer RS, DeNardo DF. 2000. Natural history observations on Bitis peringueyi (Boulenger) (Reptilia: Viperidae). Cimbebasia 16: 195-198. PDF at Vanderbilt University. Accessed 18 March 2007.

External links

• Video of juvenile Bitis peringueyi on YouTube. Accessed 28 May 2007.