font settings

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia

Atractaspididae

(Family)

Overview

[ Back to top ]

The Atractaspididae are a of snakes found in Africa and the Middle East. Currently, 12 genera are recognized.1]

Description

[ Back to top ]

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

[ Back to top ]

Found in Africa and the Middle East.[2][3][4]

Venom

[ Back to top ]

Most of these snakes are inoffensive or far too small to envenom a person effectively. 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.[5]

Genera

[ Back to top ]

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

Previously classified as a subfamily of the Colubridae: the Aparallactinae.[2]

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

The Family Atractaspididae is a member of the Superfamily Colubroidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Atractaspididae:

The Family Atractaspididae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

[ Back to top ]

Amblyodipsas

Amblyodipsas is a of snake found in Africa. Currently, 9 species are recognized. These snakes are often known as glossy snakes. All species are considered harmless, but their venom has not been well studied [more]

Aparallactus

Aparallactus is a of venomous snakes found in Africa. Currently, 11 species are recognized. [more]

Asparallactus

[more]

Atractaspis

Atractaspis is a of venomous snakes found in Africa. Currently, 15 species are recognized. [more]

Brachyophis

Brachyophis is a genus created for the venomous snake species, B. revoili, found in Africa. Currently, 3 subspecies are recognized. [more]

Chilorhinophis

Chilorhinophis is a of venomous snakes found in Africa. Currently, 3 species are recognized. [more]

Elapotinus

Elapotinus is a genus created for the venomous snake species, E. picteti, found in Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. [more]

Homoroselaps

The Striped Harlequin Snake (Homoroselaps dorsalis) is a species of in the Colubridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Homoroselaps. It is found in South Africa and Swaziland. Jonathan Raddon collected a striped harlequin in Mkuze nature reserve in South Africa in August 2008 during an active search under the lead of Jonathan Warner. The snake was collected in a rocky mountainous area with soil at 20 degrees Celsius, just underneath a rock on the surface. This find is the second found in Mkuze nature reserve the first by a man named Xander Combrink and the second by Jonathan Raddon. 3 Harlequin snakes - one almost a meter long, the second 40 to 50 cm, were observed in Great Brak River Heights North (Western Cape)mid December 2008. Small one was basking in full sun on a sandy road, the second was in the same situation on a soily area without vegetation, and the third was observed twice withing an hour the same day close to a leaking water meter, in dense grass.All were extremely fast moving after being awakened with a stick, none of them tried to bite even when actively disturbed by the observer. Three were displaying vibrant colors and shiny scales, the back stripe more orange than red. [more]

Hypoptophis

Hypoptophis is a genus created for the venomous snake species, H. wilsoni, found in Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. [more]

Macrelaps

Macrelaps is a genus created for the venomous snake species, M. microlepidotus, found in Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. [more]

Michellia

[more]

Micrelaps

Micrelaps is a of venomous Atractaspidid snakes found Africa and the Middle East. Currently, 5 species are recognized. [more]

Microsoma

[more]

Miodon

[more]

Polemon

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Xenocalamus

Xenocalamus is a of venomous snakes found in Africa. Currently, 5 species are recognized. [more]

At least 18 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Xenocalamus.

More info about the Genus Xenocalamus may be found here.

References

[ Back to top ]
  1. ^ a b c d e Atractaspididae (TSN 563895). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 17 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  3. ^ Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  4. ^ 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).
  5. ^ Atractaspididae at the TIGR Reptile Database

Sources

[ Back to top ]
Last Revised: September 22, 2009
2009/09/22 12:34:33