Causus bilineatus

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Causus bilineatus

Scientific classification
| Kingdom:  | Animalia

|

Phylum:  | Chordata

Subphylum:  | Vertebrata

Class:  | Reptilia

Order:  | Squamata

Suborder:  | Serpentes

Family:  | Viperidae

Subfamily:  | Causinae

Genus:  | Causus

Species:  | C. bilineatus

Binomial name
Causus bilineatus
Boulenger, 1905
Synonyms

* Causus rhombeatus \- Bocage, 1895
* Causus rhombeatus var. bilineatus \- Boulenger, 1905
* Causus lineatus \- Laurent, 1955
* Causus bilineatus bilineatus \- Laurent, 1964
* Causus bilineatus \- Broadley, 1971[1]

Common names: lined night adder,[2] two-striped night adder.[3]

Causus bilineatus is a venomous viper species found in south central Africa.[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Geographic range
* 3 Habitat
* 4 Feeding
* 5 See also
* 6 Cited references
* 7 External links

## Description[edit]

The average length is 30-50 cm with a reported maximum of 65 cm.[2]

The head is slightly distinct from the neck, while the snout is fairly long and tapering. Midbody there are 15-18 rows of dorsal scales that are weakly keeled and have a soft and velvety appearance. The ventral scales number 122-141 in males and 128-144 in females. There are 18-30 subcaudals.[2]

The color pattern consists of an ash to auburn to brown ground color, overlaid with numerous irregular or vaguely rectangular black dorsal patches. These patches lie within two distinct and narrow pale stripes that run the length of the body. The belly color is dark to dark cream.[2]

## Geographic range[edit]

Angola, northern Zambia, DR Congo (Shaba Province) and Rwanda. The type locality is given as "between Benguella and Bihe" (Angola). Bocage (1895) listed "Duque de Bragança, Quissanga, Cacouda, and Huilla" (Angola) for the localities.[1]

## Habitat[edit]

Occurs in moist savanna, forest-savannah environments and swampy habitats. Wild-caught specimens found to have eaten clawed frogs, Xenopus, suggest a more aquatic nature than other species.[2]

## Feeding[edit]

Preys mostly upon toads and frogs, particularly the African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis.[2]

## See also[edit]

* Causinae.
* True vipers - Common names.
* True vipers - Synonymy.
* Snake (animal)bite.

## Cited references[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 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.
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. ↑ Causus bilineatus (TSN 634835) at Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed 24 March 2007.

## External links[edit]

* Species Causus bilineatus at the Species2000 Database.