Bitis cornuta
| Bitis cornuta | |
|---|---|
| File:Bitis-cornuta-1.jpg | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Subfamily: | Viperinae |
| Genus: | Bitis |
| Species: | B. cornuta |
| Binomial name | |
| Bitis cornuta (Daudin, 1803) |
|
| Synonyms | |
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Bitis cornuta is a venomous viper species found in certain rocky desert areas, mostly along the Atlantic coast of southern Africa. They have characteristic tufts of horns above each eye.[3] Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Description
Small and stout, they grow to an average length of 30–50 cm. The maximum recorded length is 75 cm for a captive specimen.[4]
[edit] Common names
common names include many-horned adder,[2] hornsman,[3] western hornsman adder, and western many-horned adder.[4]
[edit] Geographic range
The many-horned adder ranges from thr coastal region of southwest Namibia through west and southwest Cape Province in South Africa, with a few isolated populations in eastern Cape Province. The type locality given is "Cap de Bonne-espérance" (Cape of Good Hope, South Africa). Actually, according to Patterson's itinerary, the type was observed in coastal Namaqualand, on 1 September 1779.[1]
[edit] Habitat
This species prefers rocky desert areas in dwarf succulent veld and mountain slopes in heathland vegetation.[3]
[edit] Behavior
With a nervous disposition, when disturbed, it will hiss loudly and strike so energetically that most of its body is lifted off the ground in the process. However, it usually settles down in captivity.[3]
[edit] Subspecies
| Species[1] | Taxon author[1] | Common name[4] | Geographic range[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| B. c. albanica | Hewitt, 1937 | Eastern many-horned adder | South Africa (east and south Cape Province) |
| B. c. cornuta | (Daudin, 1803) | Western many-horned adder | Southwest Namibia and South Africa (west Cape Province) |
[edit] See also
- List of viperine species and subspecies
- Viperinae by common name
- Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ a b Bitis cornuta at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
- ^ a b c d e Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- ^ "Bitis cornuta". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634952. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bitis cornuta |
- Many-horned adder (Bitis cornuta) at ARKive. Accessed 5 October 2006.
- Video of B. caudalis and B. cornuta. on YouTube. Accessed 1 March 2007.
