Aparallactus is a genus of rear-fanged mildly venomous snakes in the family Atractaspididae. The genus is endemic to Africa. 11 species are recognized as being valid.[1]
| Aparallactus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Aparallactus modestus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Atractaspididae |
| Subfamily: | Aparallactinae |
| Genus: | Aparallactus A. Smith, 1849 |
- Common name: centipede eaters.
Description
editSpecies in the genus Aparallactus have a short maxilla, with 6-9 small teeth followed by a large grooved fang situated below the eye. The anterior mandibular teeth are the longest. The head is small, not distinct from the neck. The eye is small, with a round pupil. The nasal is entire or divided. There is no loreal scale. The body is cylindrical. The tail is moderate or short. The dorsal scales are smooth, without pits, and are arranged in 15 rows. The ventrals are rounded. The subcaudals are single (not divided nor paired).[2]
Species
edit*) Not including the nominate subspecies. T) Type species.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Aparallactus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
- ^ Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Genus Aparallactus, pp. 255–256).
- ^ a b Aparallactus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 7 May 2009.
Further reading
edit- Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Genus Aparallactus, p. 63).