Aparallactus guentheri

Aparallactus guentheri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Atractaspididae
Genus: Aparallactus
Species: A. guentheri
Binomial name
Aparallactus guentheri
Boulenger, 1895[1]

Aparallactus guentheri, or the black centipede-eater, is a species of venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae.[2]

Etymology

The specific epithet, guentheri, is in honor of German-British herpetologist Albert Günther, who preceded George Albert Boulenger at the British Museum (Natural History).

Geographic range

It is found in Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe.

Description

Aparallactus guentheri is blackish brown dorsally, a little lighter ventrally. The chin and throat are yellowish white. It has a deep black collar, edged with yellowish white in front and behind, narrowly interrupted on the throat.

Adults may attain a total length of 33 cm (13 inches), with a tail 8 cm (3⅛ inches) long.

Portion of rostral visible from above nearly half as long as its distance from the frontal. Frontal 1½ times as long as broad, much longer than its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals. Nasal divided, in contact with the preocular. One postocular. Seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye, fifth in contact with the parietal. Mental in contact with the anterior chin shields, which are as long as and a little broader than the posterior chin shields. Anterior chin shields in contact with four lower labials.

Dorsal scales smooth, without pits, in 15 rows; anal entire; subcaudals 51-59, entire.[3]

References

  1. ↑ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. ↑ "Aparallactus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. London. p. 259.