This family consists of about 100 venomous species, including
the cobras. Members of this family are
equipped with an anterior pair of grooved rigid
fangs located on a fixed maxillary. Beyond
the fangs none or a few teeth may
present; fangs almost entirely tubular; proteroglyphous, with well developed
venom apparatus. Most species do not possess a loreal; oviparous. In
Jordan, this family is represented by one genus (Walterinnesia)
and one species (Walterinnesia aegyptia).
Figure
(2) Walterinnesia aegyptia Lataste, 1887
Common name: Black Desert Cobra, Walter Innes’s Snake, Innes’ Cobra.
Diagnosis. A stout snake with a small head slightly distinct from neck, with large shields
dorsally, and a short tail. Proteroglyphous. The fixed grooved fangs positioned
near the front corner of the mouth
under each nostril and in front of the eye. Rostral broader than deep. Internasals same length as prefrontals.
Frontal length more than its width.
Posterior nasal in contact with single preocular; two postoculars, one
subocular. Temporals 2+3; posterior temporals 3/3. Seven upper labials, the 3rd
and 4th enter the eye. Nine lower labials, first four in contact with the anterior chin shield. Scale rows
at midbody 21-23, 180-200 ventrals, 40-53 subcaudals, first 1-22 single,
remainder paired. Anal divided. Sexual
dimorphism is expressed in both males and females of W. aegyptia. Males
have fewer ventrals, 178-190, than females, 191-210; males have more
subcaudals )42-50 (than females (39-48), also males have more
undivided subcaudals (4-22) than females (1-5). The largest measured specimen from Jordan was
110 cm. Colouration: Dorsal body is uniformly shiny black and bluish
black ventrally.
Habitats and ecology. The Black Desert Cobra was found in all types
of habitats in Jordan. It was found in extreme desert habitats in the eastern
desert and Wadi ‘Araba, as well as in mountain
ranges near Al Karak and As Salt areas. In the last two decades a considerable
increase in the number of the Black Desert Snakes were encountered. This
increase is associated with the expansion of agricultural settlements in the
Eastern Desert and Wadi ‘Araba resulting in an increase in number and range of distribution
of the Green Toad (Amr
and Disi, 2011). The authors believes
that this species is a follower of agriculture,
toads inhabiting the newly established
farms in the Eastern Desert may attract this snake since it constitutes one of
its major food items in Jordan. This fossorial elapid was found
frequently as road-kills in Wadi ‘Araba. Gaspertti (1988)
stated that it is a rare or rarely seen in Arabia. It is highly secretive
spending most of its time in mammal burrows or those of the large spiny-tailed lizard (Leviton et al., 1992).
