Albany adder
Albany adder | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Viperidae |
Genus: | Bitis |
Species: | B. albanica
|
Binomial name | |
Bitis albanica | |
Synonyms | |
The Albany adder (Bitis albanica) is a
Bitis cornuta.[4][3] Its range is restricted to eastern and southern Cape Province in South Africa.[5] Like all vipers, it is venomous
.
It is extremely rare, and had been thought potentially extinct until four live specimens and one
road kill were found in late 2016 or early 2017.[6] Only 12 individuals have been identified since the species was discovered in 1937.[6]
Description
This subspecies does not have the "horns" that are characteristic of the
B. c. cornuta, although it does have prominent bumps over the eyes. The coloration is brown to reddish brown, and they may also lack the distinctive pattern of the typical form.[7]
This is a small adder. Maximum recorded snout to vent length (SVL) for males is 27 cm (11 in); maximum recorded SVL for females is 22.5 cm (8.9 in).[8]
Taxonomy
Branch (1999) elevated B. c. albanica to species level: Bitis albanica.[3]
It is commonly known as the Albany adder,[9] eastern hornsman adder, or eastern many-horned adder.[5]
Distribution and habitat
It is found in Eastern and southern Cape Province in South Africa.[5]
The
type locality is listed as "The Dene (Port Elizabeth), Addo, and from dry scrub districts near Grahamstown such as Brak Kloof, farm Springvale, and Kleinpoort near Committees ... Eastern Cape Province, South Africa."[2]
References
- . Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ ISBN 1-893777-01-4(volume).
- ^ a b c Viperidae - Viperinae - 1999 Publications Archived 2006-09-04 at the Wayback Machine at Wolfgang Wüster homepage Archived August 10, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor. Accessed 28 August 2006.
- ^ "Bitis cornuta albanica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
- ^ ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- ^ a b Bittel, Jason (12 May 2017). "'Extinct' Venomous Snake Rediscovered". National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 12, 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
- ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Bitis albanica, p. 118 + Plate 99.)
- ^ Bitis albanica at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.
Further reading
- Branch WR. 1999. Dwarf adders of the Bitis cornuta-inornata complex (Serpentes: Viperidae) in Southern Africa. Kaupia (Darmstadt) (8): 39-63.
- Hewitt J. 1937. A Guide to the Vertebrate Fauna of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Part II: Reptiles, Amphibians, and Freshwater Fishes. Grahamstown, South Africa: Albany Museum. vii + 141 pp. (Bitis cornuta albanica, p. 76.)