Atractaspis branchi

Atractaspis branchi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Atractaspididae
Genus: Atractaspis
Species:
A. branchi
Binomial name
Atractaspis branchi
Rödel et al., 2019

Atractaspis branchi, known commonly as Branch's stiletto snake, is a species of fossorial, venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is endemic to West Africa.

Etymology

The specific name branchi is to honor South African herpetologist William Roy (Bill) Branch, a world-leading expert on African reptiles.

Description

The species A. branchi, like other species of its genus, is notable for its unusual skull, allowing it to stab sideways with a fang sticking out of the corner of its mouth. A. branchi has morphological similarities to A. reticulata, but is distinguished by having 19 rows of dorsal scales at midbody.

Habitat and geographic range

Atractaspis branchi lives in primary rainforest and rainforest edges in the western part of the Upper Guinea forests in Guinea and Liberia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Rödel, Mark-Oliver [in French]; Kucharzewski, Christoph; Mahlow, Kristin; Chirio, Laurent; Pauwels, Olivier [in French]; Carlino, Piero; Sambolah, Gordon; Glos, Julian (2019). "A new stiletto snake (Lamprophiidae, Atractaspidinae, Atractaspis) from Liberia and Guinea, West Africa". Zoosystematics and Evolution. 951 (107): 107–123. doi:10.3897/zse.95.31488. (Atractaspis branchi, new species).
  2. ↑ "New species of stiletto snake capable of sideways strikes discovered in West Africa". sciencedaily. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
  3. ↑ Species Atractaspis branchi at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
  4. ↑ "SNAKE THAT CAN STAB SIDEWAYS WITH FANGS STICKING OUT CORNER OF ITS MOUTH DISCOVERED". newsweek. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2019-03-13.