Atractaspis congica, commonly known as the Congo burrowing asp, is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is found in Africa.

Description

Uniformly dark brown or black both dorsally and ventrally. Snout very short and rounded. Portion of rostral visible from above about half as long as its distance from the frontal. Smooth dorsal scales in 19 or 23 rows. Ventrals 200–230; anal divided; subcaudals 19–23, a few of the anterior entire, the remainder in two rows. Adults may attain a total length of , with a tail long.

Atractaspis congica

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized.

Atractaspis congica

Atractaspis congica congica W. Peters, 1877

Atractaspis congica leleupi Laurent, 1950

Atractaspis congica orientalis Laurent, 1945

References

Lamprophiidae

Reptiles described in 1877

Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters

Atractaspis congica