Atractaspididae or the Mole Viper family is related to
elapids. Externally, they are similar in
appearance to colubrid snakes, however, species of this family are
characterized by possessing powerful erectile hollow front fangs. The fangs are
erected rather laterally. Species of this family are strictly fossorial
and known as the burrowing asps or mole vipers. This family includes two genera
known to occur in Jordan, Atractaspis and Micrelaps
(Amr and Disi, 2011). Species of
the genus Micrelaps (Micrelaps muelleri and Micrelaps
tchernovi) are not considered dangerous
Figure
(1) Atractaspis engaddensis Haas, 1950
Common name: En Gedi
Mole Viper, Palestinian Mole Viper.
Diagnosis. Snout very
short and moderately pointed. Frontal large and longer than broad; width of
frontal equals length of parietal. One supraocular; one preocular and one
postocular. 2+3 scale-like temporal. Six upper labials, the 3rd and
4th enter the eye. Ten lower labials; three or four in contact with
the anterior chin shields. Lower jaw is retracted than the upper jaw and the
mouth opening is located ventrally. Nasal divided in its lower half. Ten scales
between chin shields and first ventral scales. 23-29 smooth midorsal scales,
263-282 ventrals; 31-39 entire subcaudals. Anal undivided. Snout-vent length reaches 700 mm or more, tail
length reaches 60 mm. Maximum total length may reach up to 80 cm. Colouration: Dorsally it is usually shiny black. Rarely,
the colour is uniformly dark, shiny brown or gray. Ventrals are an iridescent
light colour.
Habitats and ecology. The En Gedi Mole Viper is a
strictly fossorial snake, that seldom emerges above ground. However, it seems to move at night, this
behavior was observed in the Wadi Al Mujib area, where an adult specimen was seen at night moving on
the ground along small rocks. Subterraneous in vegetated
places in hot and humid areas. Sometimes found in gardens while digging or
under stones. It prefers loose soil and avoids loose sand or very arid
situations. Also, it prefers oases or farms and may be encountered on arid
hillsides (Al Mujib Wildlife Reserve).
Two specimens were collected from At Tafila
Governorate (Al Oran and Amr, 1995).
The sharp projections of the
fangs may be related with the special striking behavior of Atractaspis.
This projection helps ensure that
the tiny amount of the venom is fully penetrated in to the prey (Kochva and
Meier, 1986). Atractaspis species exhibit an unmatched structure of venom glands with specific
osteological and mycological modifications (Kochva et
al., 1967).
