The Atractaspididae (atractaspidids) are a family of venomous snakes found in Africa and the Middle East, commonly called mole vipers, stiletto snakes, or burrowing asps. Currently, 12 genera are recognized.
Description This family includes many genera formerly classed in other families and subfamilies, on the basis of fang type. It includes fangless (aglyphous), rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous), fixed-fanged (proteroglyphous), and hinge-fanged (solenoglyphous) species. Early molecular and physiological data linking this subfamily to others were ambiguous and often contradictory, which means the taxonomy of this subfamily has been highly contentious. The nominate family, Atractaspididae, has itself been moved to and from other taxa, such as potentially forming a trichotomy with Elapidae and Colubridae, reinforcing the ambiguity of this subfamily.
Geographic range This subfamily is found in Africa and the Middle East.Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. .Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. .Parker HW, Grandison AGC. 1977. Snakes -- a natural history. Second Edition. British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press. 108 pp. 16 plates. . (cloth), (paper).
Venom Many of these snakes are inoffensive or far too small to envenomate a person effectively. However, some can inflict severe tissue necrosis; e.g. if the victim's thumb is bitten, the tip of that digit may be lost. Relapses may occur long after the bite.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: The bites of stiletto snakes are often exceptionally painful.
Very few deaths have resulted from accidents with these snakes, although large individuals of Atractaspis microlepidota and other long-glanded species are very likely to be dangerous.Atractaspididae at the TIGR Reptile Database Some of the long-fanged species are able to stab their prey (or an unfortunate human) even while their mouths are closed, and the typical grasp used by herpetologists to securely hold venomous snakes is not safe for this group. This ability to stab sideways even with a closed mouth is the basis for an English name used for some of them: "side-stabbing snakes" or "side-stabbers".
Genera Subfamily Atractaspidinae -- 13 GeneraGenusTaxon authorSpecies CountCommon nameGeographic rangeAmblyodipsasW. Peters, 18579glossy snakesAfricaAparallactusA. Smith, 184911centipede-eatersAfricaAtractaspisA. Smith, 184915burrowing asps, stiletto snakes Africa, Middle-EastBrachyophisMocquard, 18881Revoil's short snakeAfricaChilorhinophisF. Werner, 19073AfricaHypoptophisBoulenger, 19081African bighead snakeAfricaHomoroselapsJan, 18582harlequin snakesSouthern AfricaMacrelapsBoulenger, 18961Natal black snakeAfricaMicrelapsBoettger, 18804two-headed snakesAfrica, Middle-EastPoecilopholisBoulenger, 19031Cameroon racerAfricaPolemonJan, 185813snake-eatersAfricaXenocalamusGünther, 18685quill-snouted snakesAfrica
Taxonomy This family was previously classified as a subfamily of the Colubridae: the Aparallactinae.
Gallery
See also List of atractaspidid species and subspecies
References
External links
Atractaspids at Life is Short but Snakes are Long Stiletto snakes at Tetrapod Zoology iNaturalist link