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Atractaspididae

Beaked Burrowing Asp

Venomous

Atractaspis duerdeni

Beaked Burrowing Asp
Atractaspis duerdeni, (c) Joubert Heymans, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Joubert Heymans
Beaked Burrowing AspBeaked Burrowing Asp

3 photographs of the Beaked Burrowing Asp. (c) Joubert Heymans, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Joubert Heymans.

The Beaked Burrowing Asp (Atractaspis duerdeni) is a venomous snake in the Atractaspididae family, recorded in 3 countries.

If you are bitten

This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.

Family
Atractaspididae
Danger
high

About the Beaked Burrowing Asp

Atractaspis duerdeni, commonly known as the beaked burrowing asp, Duerden's burrowing asp, and Duerden's stiletto snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Etymology

The specific epithet, duerdeni, is in honor of James Edwin Duerden (1865–1937) of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa.

Geographic range

A. duerdeni is found in southeastern Botswana, Namibia, and northern South Africa.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. duerdeni is savanna, at altitudes of 850–1,600 m (2,790–5,250 ft).

Description

In his original description Gough described A. duerdeni as being cream-colored above and below, referring to a faded specimen stored in alcohol. In life A. duerdeni is uniformly blackish-brown or gray dorsally, and it is white or creamish-pink ventrally. The dorsal scales are in 21 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 199; the anal is entire; and the subcaudals number 22, all except the first entire. The snout is prominent and subcuneiform. The rostral has a rounded horizontal edge, and the portion visible from above is a little longer than its distance from the frontal. Females may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 51 cm (20 in), and males, which are smaller, may attain 44 cm (17 in) SVL.

Behavior

A. duerdeni is fossorial.

Diet

A. duerdeni preys upon sleeping lizards and snakes.

Reproduction

A. duerdeni is oviparous.

Venom

A venomous species, A. duerdeni can inflict a serious bite requiring medical attention, but no human fatality has been recorded.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Beaked Burrowing Asp

Is the Beaked Burrowing Asp venomous?
Yes. The Beaked Burrowing Asp (Atractaspis duerdeni) is venomous and belongs to the Atractaspididae family (stiletto snake (burrowing asp)). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
Is the Beaked Burrowing Asp poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Beaked Burrowing Asp is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Beaked Burrowing Asp dangerous?
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
Where does the Beaked Burrowing Asp live?
The Beaked Burrowing Asp has verified records in 3 countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
What does the Beaked Burrowing Asp eat?
A. duerdeni preys upon sleeping lizards and snakes.
Why is it called the Beaked Burrowing Asp?
The specific epithet, duerdeni, is in honor of James Edwin Duerden (1865–1937) of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa.

If you are bitten by the Beaked Burrowing Asp

A venomous snakebite is a medical emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately. In the US, dial 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Do

  • Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
  • Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
  • Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
  • Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
  • Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
  • Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

Do not

  • Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
  • Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
  • Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
  • Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
  • Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.

First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.

Where it is found

South AfricaBotswanaNamibia

More Atractaspididae snakes

Classification

How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
Squamata
FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
Atractaspididae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
Atractaspis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Atractaspis duerdeni

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.