Many-horned adder

The many-horned adder (Bitis cornuta) is a venomous viper species found in certain rocky desert areas, mostly along the Atlantic coast of southern Africa. They have characteristic tufts of "horns" above each eye.[2] no subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Many-horned adder
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bitis
Species:
B. cornuta
Binomial name
Bitis cornuta
(Daudin, 1803)
Synonyms[1]
  • Vipera cornuta Daudin, 1803
  • Vip[era]. lophophris
    Cuvier, 1829
  • Vip[era]. lophophrys
    — Wagler, 1830
  • Vipera lophophris
    — Gray, 1831
  • Cerastes cornuta
    — Gray, 1842
  • Vipera (Echidna) atropoides A. Smith, 1846
  • Vipera atropoides
    — A. Smith, 1846
  • Clotho cornuta — Gray, 1849
  • Cerastes lophophrys
    — A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron &
    A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
  • V[ipera]. (Cerastes) cornuta
    — Jan, 1863
  • Vipera (Clotho) cornuta
    — Higgins, 1873
  • Bitis cornuta
    — Boulenger, 1896
  • Bitis cornuta cornuta
    — Bogert, 1940

Taxonomy

Common names include many-horned adder,[4] hornsman,[2] western hornsman adder, and western many-horned adder.[5]

The type locality given is "Cap de Bonne-espérance" (Cape of Good Hope, South Africa). Actually, according to Patterson's itinerary, the type was observed in coastal Namaqualand, on 1 September 1779.[1]

Description

Small and stout, they grow to a typical total length (body and tail) of 30–50 cm (about 12-20 inches). The maximum recorded total length is 75 cm (30 in) for a captive specimen.[5]

Two to five raised, horn-like scales occur above each eye.[6]

Dorsally, it has a grey to reddish-brown ground colour, overlaid with four longitudinal series of large, dark-brown blotches, which are squarish or parallelogram-like in shape, and edged with white. Ventrally, it is whitish or tan, either uniform or speckled with dark brown. On the dorsal surface of the head, dark, symmetrical markings may form an arrowhead.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The many-horned adder ranges from the coastal region of southwest Namibia through west and southwest Cape Province in South Africa, with a few isolated populations in eastern Cape Province.

This species prefers rocky desert areas in dwarf succulent veld and mountain slopes in heathland vegetation.[2]

Behavior

With a nervous disposition, when disturbed, it will hiss loudly and strike so energetically that most of its body is lifted off the ground in the process. However, it usually settles down in captivity.[2]

References
  1. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  3. "Bitis cornuta". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 25 July 2006.
  4. Bitis cornuta at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.
  5. 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.
  6. Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the...Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers.) xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. (Bitis cornuta, pp. 497-498.)

Further reading
  • Branch, Bill. 2004. Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Bitis cornuta, pp. 116–117 + Plate 13.)
  • Daudin FM. 1803. Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière des Reptiles; Ouvrage faisant suite à l'Histoire Naturelle générale et particulière, composée par LECLERC DE BUFFON; et rédigée par C.S. SONNINI, membre de plusieurs Sociétés savantes. Tome VI. Paris: F. Dufart. 447 pp. (Vipera cornuta, p. 188.)
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