Bitis heraldica

Bitis heraldica is a venomous viper species found only in Angola, easily distinguished from B. caudalis by its heavily speckled belly and lack of any supraocular "horns".[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Bitis heraldica
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[1]

Taxonomy

Its common names include Angolan adder[4][2] and Bocage's horned adder.[3]

Description

The maximum recorded total length (body + tail) is 405 mm (15.9 in).[2]

Distribution and habitat

It is found on the high plateau of central Angola.[1]

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.[1]

It commonly inhabits rocky mountain slopes.[2]

Behavior

Nothing is known of its behavior, as less than 20 specimens have ever been collected.[2]

Venom

Nothing is known of the venom composition, and no bites have ever been recorded.[2]

References
  1. 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).
  2. Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8
  3. "Bitis heraldica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
  4. 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
  • 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.)
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