Amblyodipsas microphthalma

Amblyodipsas micropthalma, or the eastern purple-glossed snake, is a species of venomous rear-fanged snake in the Atractaspididae family.[2][3]

Amblyodipsas micropthalma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Lamprophiidae
Genus: Amblyodipsas
Species:
A. micropthalma
Binomial name
Amblyodipsas micropthalma
(Bianconi, 1852)
Synonyms
  • Calamaria micropthalma Bianconi, 1852
  • Amblyodipsas micropthalma - Jan, 1865[1]

Geographic range

It is found in Mozambique and the Republic of South Africa.

Description

Dorsally dark brown. Ventrally white, including chin and tail, with a dark brown stripe down the middle of the belly. The white of the outer edges of the ventrals extends onto the adjacent first two rows of dorsal scales on each side of the body.

Rostral broader than long, portion visible from above ⅔ its distance from the frontal. Frontal large, nearly twice as long as broad, acutely pointed behind, much longer than its distance from the end of the snout. Only four upper labials, second and third entering the eye, fourth largest and in contact with the parietal.

Dorsal scales smooth, without pits, arranged in 15 rows. Ventrals 142; anal plate divided; subcaudals 19, divided.

Total length 30 cm (11 3⁄4 in); tail 24 mm (1 in).[4]

References
  1. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. Branch, Bill. A Photographic Guide to Snakes, Other Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa. Cape Town: Struik, 2005. 67.
  3. ."Amblyodipsas". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  4. Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. London. p. 244.
  • Bianconi, G.G. 1852. Specimina zoologica mosambicana. p. 94, plate xii, figure 1.


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