- Atractaspididae
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Atractaspididae Atractaspis bibronii Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Infraorder: Alethinophidia Family: Atractaspididae
Günther, 1858Synonyms - Aparallactinae
- Common names: Mole vipers, stiletto snakes, burrowing asps.
The Atractaspididae are a family of snakes found in Africa and the Middle East. Currently, 12 genera are recognized.[1]
Contents
Description
This family includes many genera formerly classed in other families, on the basis of fang type. It includes fangless (aglyphous), rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous), fixed-fanged (proteroglyphous), and viper-like (solenoglyphous) species. Molecular and physiological data linking this family to others is ambiguous and often contradictory, which means the taxonomy of this family is highly contentious. The nominate family, Atractaspididae has itself been moved to and from other taxa, reinforcing the ambiguity of this family.
Geographic range
This family is found in Africa and the Middle East.[2][3][4]
Venom
Most of these snakes are inoffensive or far too small to envenom 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. [5][6]
Very few deaths seem to have resulted from accidents with these snakes, although large individuals of Atractaspis microlepidota and a few other long-glanded species are very likely to be dangerous.[7] Some of the long-fanged species are able to stab their prey (or an unfortunate human) even while their mouth is closed, and the typical grasp used by herpetologists to securely hold venomous snakes is not necessarily safe for this group.[8][9] 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.[3]
Genera
Family Atractaspididae -- 12 Genera Genus[1] Taxon author[1] Species
Count[1]Common name Geographic range Amblyodipsas Peters, 1857 9 glossy snakes Africa Aparallactus A. Smith, 1849 11 centipede-eaters Africa Atractaspis A. Smith, 1849 15 burrowing asps, stiletto snakes[1] Africa, Middle-East Brachyophis Mocquard, 1888 1 Revoil's short snake Africa Chilorhinophis Werner, 1907 3 two-headed snakes Africa Elapotinus Jan, 1862 1 Jan's snake Africa Hypoptophis Boulenger, 1908 1 African bighead snake Africa Macrelaps Boulenger, 1896 1 Natal black snake Africa Micrelaps Boettger, 1880 5 two-headed snakes Africa, Middle-East Poecilopholis Boulenger, 1903 1 Cameroon racer Africa Polemon Jan, 1858 13 snake-eaters Africa Xenocalamus Günther, 1868 5 quill-snouted snakes Africa Taxonomy
Previously classified as a subfamily of the Colubridae: the Aparallactinae.[2]
See also
- List of atractaspidid species and subspecies
- Atractaspididae by common name
- Atractaspididae by taxonomic synonyms
- List of snakes, overview of all snake families and genera.
- Snakebite
References
- ^ a b c d e "Atractaspididae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=563895. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
- ^ a b Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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. ISBN 0-8014-1095-9 (cloth), ISBN 0-8014-9164-9 (paper).
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p31K9gfBev8&feature=related
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSx1fiLVxLs
- ^ Atractaspididae at the TIGR Reptile Database
- ^ Kurnik Haviv and Kochva (1999). A snake bite by the burrowing asp, Atractaspis engaddensis. Toxicon 37(1): 223-227.
- ^ Deufel and Cundall (2003). Feeding in Atractaspis (Serpentes: Atractaspididae): a study in conflicting functional constraints. Zoology 106: 43-61.
External links
- Atractaspididae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 November 2008.
Snake families Chordata • Reptilia • Squamata • Serpentes Alethinophidia Acrochordidae • Aniliidae • Anomochilidae • Atractaspididae • Boidae • Bolyeriidae • Colubridae • Cylindrophiidae • Elapidae • Loxocemidae • Pythonidae • Tropidophiidae • Uropeltidae • Viperidae • XenopeltidaeScolecophidia Categories:
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