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Atractaspididae

Black-headed Micrelaps

Venomous

Micrelaps vaillanti

Black-headed Micrelaps
Micrelaps vaillanti, (c) Vlada Trailin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Vlada Trailin

The Black-headed Micrelaps (Micrelaps vaillanti) is a venomous snake in the Atractaspididae family, recorded in 9 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 Black-headed Micrelaps

Micrelaps vaillanti, also known commonly as the black-headed micrelaps or the Somali two-headed snake, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Micrelapidae. The species is endemic to Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, vaillanti, is in honor of French herpetologist Léon Vaillant.

Geographic range

M. vaillanti is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, eastern Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of M. vaillanti are shrubland and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 1,800 m (5,900 ft).

Description

M. vaillanti is brown dorsally, with the center of each dorsal scale grayish white. The ventrals are brown in the middle, and whitish on the sides.

Adults may attain a total length of 28.2 cm (11 in), with a tail 32 mm (1+1⁄4 in) long.

The dorsal scales are smooth, without pits, and are arranged in 15 rows at midbody (in 17 rows on the neck). The ventrals number 171–203. The anal plate is divided, and the subcaudals are also divided.

The head is very flattened. The rostral is large, twice as broad as deep, the portion visible from above about 2⁄3 as long as its distance from the frontal. The internasals are twice as broad as long, and twice as long as the prefrontals. The frontal is small, 1+1⁄2 times as long as broad, as long as its distance from the end of the snout, much shorter than the parietals. The supraocular is as long as broad. There is one very small postocular. The temporals are arranged 1+1. There are seven upper labials, the third in contact with the prefrontal, the third and fourth (or third, fourth, and fifth) entering the eye. There are four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. The two pairs of chin shields (anterior and posterior) are subequal in size.

Reproduction

M. vaillanti is oviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Black-headed Micrelaps

Is the Black-headed Micrelaps venomous?
Yes. The Black-headed Micrelaps (Micrelaps vaillanti) 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 Black-headed Micrelaps poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black-headed Micrelaps is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Black-headed Micrelaps 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 Black-headed Micrelaps live?
The Black-headed Micrelaps has verified records in 9 countries, including Kenya, Somalia, Sudan. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Black-headed Micrelaps?
The specific name, vaillanti, is in honor of French herpetologist Léon Vaillant.

If you are bitten by the Black-headed Micrelaps

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

KenyaSomaliaSudanTanzania, United Republic ofEthiopiaIsraelSouth SudanSyrian Arab RepublicUganda

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
Micrelaps
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Micrelaps vaillanti

Keep learning

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