Atractaspididae

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Atractaspididae
Atractaspis engaddensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Superfamily: Elapoidea
Family: Atractaspididae
Günther
, 1858
Synonyms
  • Aparallactinae

The Atractaspididae (atractaspidids) are a

venomous snakes[1] found in Africa and the Middle East, commonly called mole vipers, stiletto snakes, or burrowing asps. Currently, 12 genera are recognized.[2]

Description

This family includes many genera formerly classed in other families and subfamilies, on the basis of

solenoglyphous) species. Early molecular and physiological data linking this subfamily to others were ambiguous and often contradictory, which means the taxonomy of this subfamily has been highly contentious. The nominate family, Atractaspididae, has itself been moved to and from other taxa, such as potentially forming a trichotomy with Elapidae and Colubridae,[3]
reinforcing the ambiguity of this subfamily.

Geographic range

This subfamily is found in Africa and the Middle East.[4][5][6][7]

Venom

Many of these snakes are inoffensive or far too small to envenomate a person effectively. However, some can inflict severe

tissue necrosis; e.g. if the victim's thumb is bitten, the tip of that digit may be lost. Relapses may occur long after the bite.[8][9][medical citation needed] The venom of stiletto snakes causes excruciating pain.[10][11]

Very few deaths have resulted from accidents with these snakes, although large individuals of

herpetologists to securely hold venomous snakes is not safe for this group.[13][14] This ability to stab sideways even with a closed mouth is the basis for an English name used for some of them: "side-stabbing snakes" or "side-stabbers".[5]

Genera

Subfamily Atractaspidinae -- 13 Genera
Genus[2] Taxon author[2] Species
Count[2] 		Common name Geographic range
Amblyodipsas W. Peters, 1857 9 glossy snakes Africa
Aparallactus A. Smith, 1849 11 centipede-eaters Africa
Atractaspis A. Smith, 1849 15 burrowing asps, stiletto snakes[2] Africa, Middle-East
Brachyophis Mocquard, 1888 1 Revoil's short snake Africa
Chilorhinophis F. Werner, 1907 3 Africa
Hypoptophis Boulenger, 1908 1 African bighead snake Africa
Homoroselaps[15] Jan, 1858 2 harlequin snakes Southern Africa
Macrelaps Boulenger, 1896 1 Natal black snake Africa
Micrelaps Boettger, 1880 4 two-headed snakes Africa, Middle-East
Poecilopholis
 		Boulenger, 1903 1 Cameroon racer Africa
Polemon Jan, 1858 13 snake-eaters Africa
Xenocalamus Günther, 1868 5 quill-snouted snakes Africa

Taxonomy

This family was previously classified as a subfamily of the Colubridae: the Aparallactinae.[4]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. PMID 21074626. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 3 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Atractaspididae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
  3. S2CID 22522675
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-8069-6460-X
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 0-88359-029-8
    .
  6. ISBN 0-8014-9164-9
    (paper).
  7. PMID 23915248
    .
  8. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "I Was Bitten - Flesh Eating Snakebite". YouTube.
  9. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Stiletto Snake". YouTube.
  10. ^ "Snake That Can Stab Sideways With Fangs Sticking Out Corner of Its Mouth Discovered". Newsweek. March 12, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Beware of the Stiletto Snake - African Snakebite Institute". African Snakebite Institute. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Atractaspididae at the TIGR Reptile Database
  13. PMID 9920494
    .
  14. PMID 16351890
    .
  15. ^ "Search results | the Reptile Database".

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atractaspididae.
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