Atractaspis dahomeyensis

{{Short description|Species of snake}}

{{speciesbox

| genus = Atractaspis

| species = dahomeyensis

| authority = Bocage, 1887

}}

Atractaspis dahomeyensis, or the Dahomey burrowing asp, is a species of venomous snake in the Atractaspididae family.{{ITIS |id=209551 |taxon=Atractaspis |accessdate=29 August 2007}}

Geographic range

It is endemic to Africa.Spawls, S. & Branch, B. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Oriental Press, 1995. {{ISBN|0-88359-029-8}}.

Description

Atractaspis dahomeyensis is black dorsally. It is brown ventrally, and the ventral scales are edged with lighter brown.

Snout prominent and cuneiform. Dorsal scales arranged in 31 rows. Ventrals 240; anal entire; subcaudals 24, partly entire, partly divided.

Total length {{convert|49|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}}; tail {{convert|32|mm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}}.Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. London. p. 516.

References

{{Reflist}}

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Category:Atractaspididae

Category:Reptiles described in 1887

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