Biology
provided by Arkive
Very little is known of this rare species. Members of the Viperidae family tend to be active at night. They hunt for small mammals, birds and other small vertebrates. Species belonging to the genus Bitis are viviparous (2).
Conservation
provided by Arkive
All reptiles are protected in South Africa, with a strict permit system in force, even for biological field research. However, illegal collecting is difficult to control (4).
Description
provided by Arkive
The Namaqua dwarf adder is the smallest venomous snake in the world (3), reaching a maximum length of just 28 centimetres (2). A true viper, this unusual snake is a member of the Viperidae family, which contains true vipers (Viperinae) and pit vipers (Crotalinae) (2). All members of the family Viperidae have broad triangular shaped heads and heavy bodies that feature many scales (2). They have long hinged, hollow fangs that allow them to inject venom into their victims; when not in use, these fangs fold back and rest against the roof of the mouth (2).
Habitat
provided by Arkive
Found in semi-stable dunes, mainly in coastal areas (3) (4).
Range
provided by Arkive
Found in South Africa from Hondeklip Bay north to south western Namibia, where it occurs south of the Namib Desert (4).
Status
provided by Arkive
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
Threats
provided by Arkive
The predominant threat to this species' survival in the wild has been the mining activities on the coast of South Africa and Namibia (4). It has also been collected heavily for the pet trade, with 200 known to have been taken recently from the Port Nolloth area in Namaqualand, in the northwest of South Africa (4).
Distribution
provided by ReptileDB
Continent: Africa
Distribution: SW Namibia (southern regions of Namib desert, from Lüderitz Bay to Little
Namaqualand),
Republic of South Africa
Type locality: "Angra Pequenia"[Lüderitz Bay, Namibia].
Bitis schneideri
provided by wikipedia EN
- Common names: Namaqua dwarf adder,[3][4] spotted dwarf adder,[3] Schneider's adder.[4]
Bitis schneideri is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to a small coastal region that straddles the border between Namibia and South Africa.[1][4][5] B. schneideri is the smallest species in the genus Bitis and possibly the world's smallest viper.[3] There are no subspecies that are currently recognized as being valid.[5][6]
Etymology
The specific name, schneideri, was given by Oskar Boettger in honor of "Dr. Oskar Schneider in Dresden ", a friend of Boettger.[7] Oskar Schneider (1841–1903) was a conchologist.[8]
Description
With an average total length (including tail) of 18–25 cm (7–10 in) and a maximum reported total length of 28 cm (11 in), B. schneideri is the smallest species of the genus Bitis and possibly the world's smallest viperid.[3]
Geographic range and habitat
Bitis schneideri ranges from the white coastal sand dunes of Namibia, near Lüderitz, south to Hondeklip Bay, Little Namaqualand, South Africa. Mallow et al. (2003) describe the range as the transitional regions of the Namib Desert.[3] The viper's habitat comprises a comparatively narrow strip of coastal dunes that appears to be characterized by particularly low seasonality, i.e. small temperature differences between seasons.[9] The range may extend up to 60 km (37 mi) inland in the Sperrgebiet of southern Namibia.[4]
The type locality given is "Angra Pequenia" [ Lüderitz Bay, Namibia].[2]
Ecology
Populations of B. schneideri naturally appear to be subject to unusually high annual mortality (39–56%) due to their small size and existence in a very predator-rich environment. As a consequence, it is likely that the species has evolved a higher rate of reproduction (once every year) than is usual among viperids, who commonly only reproduce every other year or more rarely.[10] B. schneideri is viviparous.[5]
Venom
An account is provided by Hurrell (1981) of a bite he sustained on his left index finger. The symptoms included intense pain, pronounced swelling, discoloration and oozing of serum from the punctures. After 24 hours, a 5 mm hematoma developed at the bite site. His condition stabilized after three to four days, with the swelling and pain gradually subsiding. Healing was complete after two weeks, with no loss of function or sensation of the afflicted digit. Minimal local tissue damage and no systemic effects were reported.[11] No antivenin is available for this species.[3]
References
-
^ a b Tolley, K.A.; Alexander, G.J.; Weeber, J.; Maritz, B.; Turner, A.A. (2019). "Bitis schneideri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T2818A147708662. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T2818A147708662.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
-
^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
-
^ a b c d e f Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
-
^ a b c d Spawls S, Branch B (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
-
^ a b c Bitis schneideri at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 February 2022.
-
^ "Bitis schneideri ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
-
^ Boettger, Oskar (1886). "Beiträge zur Herpetologie und Malakozoologie Südwest-Afrikas. I. Zur Kenntnis der Fauna von Angra Pequenia". Bericht über die Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Frankfurt am Main. 1886: 3–29. (Vipera schneideri, new species, p. 8). (in German).
-
^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Bitis schneideri, p. 237).
-
^ Maritz, Bryan; Alexander, Graham J. (2012). "Dwarfs on the Move: Spatial Ecology of the World's Smallest Viper, Bitis schneideri ". Copeia. 2012 (1): 115–120. doi:10.1643/ch-11-048. S2CID 84224905.
-
^ Maritz, Bryan; Alexander, Graham J. (2012). "Population density and survival estimates of the African viperid, Bitis schneideri ". Herpetologica. 68 (2): 195–202. doi:10.1655/herpetologica-d-11-00043.1. S2CID 83841608.
-
^ Hurrell DP (1981). "Namaqua dwarf adder bite". South African Medical Journal. 45: 969–971.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Bitis schneideri: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Common names: Namaqua dwarf adder, spotted dwarf adder, Schneider's adder.
Bitis schneideri is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to a small coastal region that straddles the border between Namibia and South Africa. B. schneideri is the smallest species in the genus Bitis and possibly the world's smallest viper. There are no subspecies that are currently recognized as being valid.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
