Atractaspis duerdeni, commonly known as the beaked burrowing asp,[2] Duerden's burrowing asp,[3] and Duerden's stiletto snake,[2] is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae.[4] The species is native to southern Africa.
The specific epithet, duerdeni, is in honor of James Edwin Duerden (1865–1937) of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa.[5][6]
A. duerdeni is found in southeastern Botswana, Namibia, and northern South Africa.[2]
The preferred natural habitat of A. duerdeni is savanna, at altitudes of 850–1,600 m (2,790–5,250 ft).[1]
In his original description Gough described A. duerdeni as being cream-colored above and below, referring to a faded specimen stored in alcohol.[5] In life A. duerdeni is uniformly blackish-brown or gray dorsally, and it is white or creamish-pink ventrally.[3] The dorsal scales are in 21 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 199; the anal is entire; and the subcaudals number 22, all except the first entire. The snout is prominent and subcuneiform. The rostral has a rounded horizontal edge, and the portion visible from above is a little longer than its distance from the frontal.[5] Females may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 51 cm (20 in), and males, which are smaller, may attain 44 cm (17 in) SVL.[3]
A. duerdeni preys upon sleeping lizards and snakes.[3]
A venomous species, A. duerdeni can inflict a serious bite requiring medical attention, but no human fatality has been recorded.[3]
Atractaspis duerdeni, commonly known as the beaked burrowing asp, Duerden's burrowing asp, and Duerden's stiletto snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is native to southern Africa.
