Horned adder

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Horned adder
Bitis caudalis00a.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bitis
Species:
B. caudalis
Binomial name
Bitis caudalis
(A. Smith, 1839)
Synonyms
  • Vipera ocellataA. Smith, 1838
  • Cerastes ocellatus
    A. Smith, 1838
  • Vipera caudalisA. Smith, 1839 [2]
  • Vipera (Cerastes) caudalis
    A. Smith, 1839
  • Cerastes caudalis
    Gray, 1842
  • Vipera caudalis Jan, 1859
  • V[ipera]. (Cerastes) caudalis Jan, 1863
  • Bitis caudalis
    Boulenger, 1896
  • Cobra caudalis
    Mertens, 1937
  • Bitis caudalis caudalis
    Mertens, 1955
  • Bitis caudalis Branch, 1991 [3]

The horned adder (Bitis caudalis) is a viper species. [1] [4] It is found in the arid region of southwest Africa, in Angola, Botswana, Namibia; South Africa, and Zimbabwe. [1] It is easily distinguished by the presence of a single, large horn-like scale over each eye.[ citation needed ] No subspecies are currently recognized. [4] [5] Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Contents

Common names

The species is commonly known as the horned adder, [1] [4] [6] horned puff adder, [7] or horned viper. [8]

Description

A short, stout little viper, it usually averages 30–40 cm (12–15.5 in) in total length (body + tail). The largest specimen reported being seen is a female from southern Botswana measuring 51.5 cm (20.3 in) total length. [6]

Geographic range

The snake is found in far arid regions of southwest Africa: southwest Angola, Namibia, across the Kalahari Desert of southern Botswana, into northern Transvaal and southwestern Zimbabwe. In South Africa, it is found from the northern Cape Province south to the Great Karoo.

Its type locality is given as "... the sandy districts north of the Cape Colony..." [South Africa]. [3]

Habitat

Horned adders are mostly found in sparsely vegetated desert and semiarid scrub country. [6]

Venom

Bites are assumed to be rare and no epidemiological data are available. [7] Little information is available regarding the toxicity and amount of venom produced. Spawls and Branch (1995) reported an average yield of 85 mg of wet venom, [6] while Christensen (1971) offered an LD50 value of 1.2 mg/kg IV. [9] Other research has found the LD50[ ambiguous ] to be between 0.15 and 0.22 mg/kg [10]

Based on this LD50 value, Spawls and Branch (1995) estimated about 300 mg of this venom would be required to kill an adult. They regarded this venom as one of the weakest of the genus, [6] although the tests are conducted solely on mice, which might have a different reaction from humans to the venom. On the other hand, an older report by the U.S. Navy (1965, 1991) suggested it is highly toxic and a number of deaths have occurred as a result. [8] [11] According to Broadley and Cock (1975), envenomation symptoms in humans include swelling, severe pain, nausea, vomiting and shock. Blisters and necrotic ulcers may form around the bite site. [7]

The National Antivenom and Vaccine Production Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, produces a polyvalent antivenin that includes a paraspecific antibody that protects against bites from this species. [12] According to the U.S. Navy (1965, 1991), [8] [11] polyvalent antivenins produced by SAIMR and the Pasteur Institute are said to be effective, while Mallow et al. (2003) reported currently available antivenins are of limited effectiveness. [7]

Viljoen et al. (1982) isolated a protein, a neurotoxic phospholipase A2, from the venom, which they called "caudoxin". According to Lee et al. (1983), this is a presynaptic toxin similar to bungarotoxin, but with different binding sites. [7]

Taxonomy

A number of authors, including Mertens (1955), use a trinomial to refer to this species, even though no subspecies are recognized. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cerastes cerastes</i> Species of reptile

Cerastes cerastes, commonly known as the Saharan horned viper or the desert horned viper, is a venomous species of viper native to the deserts of Northern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Levant. It is often easily recognized by the presence of a pair of supraocular "horns", although hornless individuals do occur. Three subspecies have been described.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaboon viper</span> Species of snake

The Gaboon viper, also called the Gaboon adder, is a viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. It is the largest member of the genus Bitis, and it has the longest fangs of any venomous snake – up to 2 inches (5 cm) in length – and the highest venom yield of any snake. No subspecies are recognized.

<i>Bitis</i> Genus of snakes

Bitis is a genus of venomous vipers found in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. It includes the largest and the smallest vipers in the world. Members are known for their characteristic threat displays that involve inflating and deflating their bodies while hissing and puffing loudly. The type species for this genus is B. arietans, which is also the most widely distributed viper in Africa. Currently, 18 species are recognized.

<i>Bitis nasicornis</i> Species of snake

Bitis nasicornis is a viper species found in the forests of West and Central Africa. This large viper is known for its striking coloration and prominent nasal "horns". No subspecies are currently recognized. Its common names include butterfly viper, rhinoceros viper, and river jack. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puff adder</span> Species of snake

The puff adder is a viper species found in savannahs and grasslands from Morocco and western Arabia throughout Africa except for the Sahara and rainforest regions. It is responsible for causing the most snakebite fatalities in Africa owing to various factors, such as its wide distribution, frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and aggressive disposition. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Field's horned viper</span> Species of snake

Field's horned viper is a species of snake in the family Viperidae. The species is native to the deserts of the Middle East. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. It was previously considered a subspecies of the Persian horned viper. The main differences between this species and the Persian horned viper are in scalation and venom composition.

<i>Causus</i> Genus of snakes

Causus is a genus of vipers found only in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a group considered to be among the most primitive members of the family Viperidae based on head scalation, oviparity, venom apparatus, and because they have round pupils. However, this is contradicted by recent molecular studies. Seven species are currently recognized. They are commonly known as night adders. Like all other vipers, they are venomous.

<i>Echis</i> Genus of snakes

Echis is a genus of vipers found in the dry regions of Africa, the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They have a characteristic threat display, rubbing sections of their body together to produce a "sizzling" warning sound. The name Echis is the Latin transliteration of the Greek word for "viper" (ἔχις). Like all vipers, they are venomous. Their common name is "saw-scaled vipers" and they include some of the species responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths in the world. Twelve species are currently recognized.

Bitis arietans somalica also known as the Somali puff adder, is a venomous viper subspecies found only in Somalia, Somaliland, eastern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. It is distinguished from B. a. arietans by its keeled subcaudals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berg adder</span> Species of snake

The berg adder is a venomous viper species endemic to mountainous regions in southern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Many-horned adder</span> Species of snake

The many-horned adder is a viper species. It is found in certain rocky desert areas, mostly along the Atlantic coast of southern Africa, in western South Africa and southwestern Namibia. It has characteristic tufts of "horns" above each eye. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.

The Albany adder is a viper species. It was previously considered a subspecies of Bitis cornuta. Its range is restricted to eastern and southern Cape Province in South Africa. Like all vipers, it is venomous.

<i>Bitis schneideri</i> Species of snake

Bitis schneideri is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to a small coastal region that straddles the border between Namibia and South Africa. B. scneideri is the smallest species in the genus Bitis and possibly the world's smallest viper. There are no subspecies that are currently recognized as being valid.

<i>Bitis heraldica</i> Species of snake

Bitis heraldica is a venomous viper species endemic to Angola. It is easily distinguished from B. caudalis by its heavily speckled belly and lack of any supraocular "horns". No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bitis inornata</i> Species of snake

Bitis inornata is a venomous viper species found only in Cape Province, South Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bitis peringueyi</i> Species of snake

Bitis peringueyi, also known as the Peringuey's adder, Peringuey's desert adder or desert sidewinding adder, is a venomous viper species found in Namibia and southern Angola. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bitis worthingtoni</i> Species of snake

Bitis worthingtoni, also known commonly as the Kenya horned viper and the Kenyan horned viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic Kenya. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<i>Causus rhombeatus</i> Species of snake

Causus rhombeatus, commonly known as the rhombic night adder, is a viper species endemic to subsaharan Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Causus lichtensteinii is a viper species endemic to western, central, and eastern Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Alexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A. (2021). "Bitis caudalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T22475165A110344127. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22475165A110344127.en . Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  2. 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 caudalis, pp. 498-499.)
  3. 1 2 3 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).
  4. 1 2 3 Bitis caudalis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 5 February 2022.
  5. "Bitis caudalis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN   0-88359-029-8.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN   0-89464-877-2.
  8. 1 2 3 U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Government. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN   0-486-26629-X.
  9. Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN   0-398-02808-7.
  10. C Y Lee et al. 1982. "Site of action of caudoxin, a neurotoxic phospholipase A2 from the horned puff adder (Bitis caudalis) venom". Toxicon, 20(3), 637-647
  11. 1 2 U.S. Navy. 1965. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Government. Washington, District of Columbia: US Govt. Printing Office. 212 pp.
  12. Bitis caudalis at Munich AntiVenom INdex (MAVIN). Accessed 21 April 2007.

Further reading