Bitis schneideri
| Bitis schneideri | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Bitis |
| Species: | B. schneideri |
| Binomial name | |
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Bitis schneideri (Boettger, 1886) |
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| Synonyms | |
Bitis schneideri is a venomous viper species found in a small coastal region that straddles the border between Namibia and South Africa. This is the smallest species in the genus Bitis and possibly the world's smallest viperid. No subspecies are currently recognized.
The specific name, schneideri, was given by Oskar Boettger in honor of "Dr. Oskar Schneider in Dresden ", a friend of Boettger. Oskar Schneider (1841–1903) was a conchologist.
With an average total length (body + tail) of 18–25 cm (7–10 in) and a maximum reported total length of 28 cm (11 in), this is the smallest species of the genus Bitis and possibly the world's smallest viperid.
This snake ranges from the white coastal sand dunes of Namibia, near Lüderitz, south to Hondeklip Bay, Little Namaqualand, South Africa. Mallow et al. (2003) describe the range as the transitional regions of the Namib Desert. The viper's habitat comprises a comparatively narrow strip of coastal dunes that appears to be characterized by particularly low seasonality, i.e. small temperature differences between seasons. The range may extend up to 60 km (37 mi) inland in the Sperrgebiet of southern Namibia.
The type locality given is "Angra Pequenia" [ Lüderitz Bay, Namibia].
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