Bitis inornata

Species of snake

Bitis inornata

Original illustration from A. Smith, 1838.

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Reptilia
Order:  | Squamata
Suborder:  | Serpentes
Family:  | Viperidae
Genus:  | Bitis
Species:  |

B. inornata

Binomial name
Bitis inornata

(A. Smith, 1838)

Synonyms[2]

* Echidna inornata
A. Smith, 1838
* Clotho ? inornata
— Gray, 1849
* Vipera inornata
— Strauch, 1869
* Bitis inornata
— Boulenger, 1896
* Bitis cornuta inornata
— Underwood, 1968
* Bitis inornata
— Branch, 1991

Common names: plain mountain adder, hornless adder.[3][4] Cape puff adder.[5]

Bitis inornata is a venomous viper species found only in Cape Province, South Africa.[1][2][6] No subspecies are currently recognized.[6][7]

## Description

[edit]

Adults of Bitis inornata average 25–40 cm (about 10–16 inches) in total length (including tail), with a maximum recorded total length of 45 cm (18 in).[3]

## Geographic range

[edit]

Bitis inornata is endemic to Cape Province, South Africa.[1]

An isolated population exists on the Sneeuberg, eastern Cape Province, South Africa.[2]

The type locality is listed as "Sneeuwbergen, or Snow Mountains, ... immediately behind the village of Graaff Raynet" (Eastern Cape Province, South Africa).[2]

Spawls and Branch (1995) described it as known only from two isolated populations in southern Cape Province in South Africa: the first in the east, limited to the montane grassland of the Sneeuberge, from north of Graaff-Reinet to Cradock. A second population was discovered relatively recently on the upper slopes of the Cederberg in the west.[4]

## Conservation status

[edit]

The species Bitis inornata is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Conradie, W.; Tolley, K.A.; Alexander, G.J.; Weeber, J.; Pietersen, D.; Maritz, B.; Turner, A.A. (2022). "Bitis inornata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T2817A197397029. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
2. ^ a b c d McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
3. ^ a b 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.
4. ^ a b Spawls, Stephen; Branch, Bill (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Oriental Press / Ralph Curtis Books. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
5. ^ Brown JH (1973). Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
6. ^ a b Bitis inornata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 February 2022.
7. ^ "Bitis inornata ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 February 2022.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the ... Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Bitis inornata, pp. 496–497).
* Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Bitis inornata, pp. 117–118 + Plate 14).
* Smith A (1838). Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa; Consisting Chiefly of Figures and Descriptions of the Objects of Natural History Collected during an Expedition into the Interior of South Africa, in the Years 1834, 1835, and 1836; Fitted out by "The Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa:" Together with a Summary of African Zoology, and an Inquiry into the Geographical Ranges of Species in that Quarter of the Globe. [Volume III. Reptilia]. London: Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury. (Smith, Elder and Co., printers). 48 Plates + unnumbered pages of text. (Echidna inornata, new species, Plate 4 + two unnumbered pages).

## External links

[edit]

* Bitis inornata at Biodiversity.mongabay.com. Accessed 2 August 2007.

Taxon identifiers

Bitis inornata|

* Wikidata: Q2711724
* Wikispecies: Bitis inornata
* ADW: Bitis_inornata
* CoL: 5WKF6
* EoL: 453895
* GBIF: 2444837
* iNaturalist: 73701
* ITIS: 634955
* IUCN: 2817
* NCBI: 2565369
* Observation.org: 97465
* Open Tree of Life: 7069709
* RD: inornata