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Bitis peringueyi
Bitis peringueyi is a venomous viper species found in Namibia and southern Angola. No subspecies are currently recognized.[5] Additional recommended knowledge
DescriptionA small snake with an average length of 20-25 cm and a maximum recorded length of 32 cm.[4] The head is short and flat with eyes located on top of the head -- an adaptation for hunting. It is covered with strongly keeled scales, the smallest of which are located anteriorly. The eyes are separated by 6-9 scales, while each is surrounded by 10-13 scales. 2-4 scales separate the suborbitals from the supralabials. The latter number 10-14, the sublabials 10-13. The chin shields contact the first 2-4 sublabials.[4] The dorsal scales number 23-31 at midbody and 21-27 anteriorly. All are strongly keeled except for those bordering the ventrals, which are large and smooth. The ventrals number 117-144. There are 15-30 subcaudals that are usually keeled, particularly towards the tip. The anal plate is single.[4] The color pattern consists of a pale buff, chestnut brown to orange-brown, or sandy grayish ground color, overlaid with three longitudinal series of faint, elongate, gray to dark spots. The body is also stippled with an irregular pattern of pale and dark spots. The belly is usually whitish or dirty yellow. The tail is generally tan, but in 25% of specimens it is black.[4] Common namesPeringuey's adder,[2][3] Peringuey's desert adder, sidewinding adder, Namib dwarf sand adder,[4] dwarf puff adder,[6] Namib desert sidewinding adder,[7] dwarf sand adder, Namib dwarf adder,[8] Namib desert viper.[9] Geographic rangeThe Namib Desert from southern Angola to Lüderitz, Namibia. The type locality is given as "Damaraland, 10 miles east of Walfisch Bay" [Namibia].[1] BehaviorAn ambush hunter, it buries itself just beneath the surface of the sand with only its eyes and the tip of its tail exposed[10] (individuals with black tail-tips employ caudaul luring).[4] When prey happens by, it is seized and envenomated.[10] FeedingIts diet includes the lizards Aporosaura and Meroles, and the barking gecko Ptenopus. Aporosaura have a high water content and are an important source of water for these snakes.[4] See also
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bitis_peringueyi". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |