Categories
  • Snakes of Africa
  • Endemic fauna of Angola
  • Reptiles of Angola
  • Reptiles described in 1889
  • Taxa named by José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage
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    Bitis heraldica

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 5 min

    Bitis heraldica
    Conservation status

    Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
    Scientific classification Edit this classification
    Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
    Class: Reptilia
    Order: Squamata
    Suborder: Serpentes
    Family: Viperidae
    Genus: Bitis
    Species:
    B. heraldica
    Binomial name
    Bitis heraldica
    (Bocage, 1889)
    Synonyms
    • Vipera heraldica Bocage, 1889
    • Bitis peringueyi
      — Boulenger, 1896
    • Bitis heraldica
      — Betherncourt-Ferreira, 1898[2]

    Bitis heraldica is a viper species endemic to Angola.[1][3] It is easily distinguished from B. caudalis by its heavily speckled belly and lack of any supraocular "horns".[4] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3][5]

    Taxonomy

    [edit]

    Its common names include Angolan adder[4][6] and Bocage's horned adder.[5]

    Description

    [edit]

    The maximum recorded total length (body + tail) is 405 mm (15.9 in).[4]

    Distribution and habitat

    [edit]

    It is found on the high plateau of central Angola.[2]

    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.[2]

    It commonly inhabits rocky mountain slopes.[4]

    Behavior

    [edit]

    Nothing is known of its behavior, as less than 20 specimens have ever been collected.[4]

    Venom

    [edit]

    Nothing is known of the venom composition, and no bites have ever been recorded.[4]

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ a b Ceríaco, L.M.P. (2021). "Bitis heraldica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22475207A22475216. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22475207A22475216.en. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
    2. ^ a b c 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).
    3. ^ a b Bitis heraldica at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 4 February 2022.
    4. ^ a b c d e f Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8
    5. ^ a b "Bitis heraldica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
    6. ^ 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

    [edit]
    • 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.)
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    Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitis heraldica
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