Bitis heraldica

Species of snake

Bitis heraldica

Conservation status

Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific 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.)

Taxon identifiers

Bitis heraldica|

* Wikidata: Q2904908
* Wikispecies: Bitis heraldica
* ADW: Bitis_heraldica
* CoL: LXL8
* EoL: 1057052
* GBIF: 2444868
* iNaturalist: 30862
* IRMNG: 11246355
* ITIS: 634954
* IUCN: 22475207
* NCBI: 2744135
* Observation.org: 97464
* Open Tree of Life: 4120661
* RD: heraldica

Vipera heraldica|

* Wikidata: Q109513298
* ITIS: 1058591