Atractaspis congica

Atractaspis congica, commonly known as the Congo burrowing asp, is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae.^[2] It is found in Africa.^[3]

Atractaspis congica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Atractaspididae
Genus:	Atractaspis
Species:	A. congica
Binomial name
Atractaspis congica W. Peters, 1877[1]

Description

Uniformly dark brown or black both dorsally and ventrally. Snout very short and rounded. Portion of rostral visible from above about half as long as its distance from the frontal. Smooth dorsal scales in 19 or 23 rows. Ventrals 200–230; anal divided; subcaudals 19–23, a few of the anterior entire, the remainder in two rows. Adults may attain a total length of 45 cm (17+3⁄4 in), with a tail 3.5 cm (1+3⁄8 in) long.^[4]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized.

• Atractaspis congica congica W. Peters, 1877
• Atractaspis congica leleupi Laurent, 1950
• Atractaspis congica orientalis Laurent, 1945^[5]