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Bitis heraldica

Bitis heraldica

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
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]

Common names: Angolan adder.^[2]^[3]

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.^[3] No subspecies are currently recognized.^[4]

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Description

The maximum recorded length is 405 mm.^[3]

Geographic range

The high plateau of central Angola. The type locality given is "sur les bords de la rivière Calae, l'un des affluents de Cunene, entre le 13^o et 14^o parallèle á l'est de Caconda." [Calai River (tributary of the Kunene), Cacanda, Angola.^[1]

Habitat

Rocky mountain slopes.^[3]

Behavior

Nothing is known of its behavior, as less than 20 specimens have ever been collected.^[3]

Venom

Nothing is known of the venom composition and no bites have ever been recorded.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b 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).
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
^ Bitis heraldica (TSN 634954). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 5 April 2007.