Atractaspis aterrima, commonly known as the slender burrowing asp or mole viper, is a species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of venomous snake

Snake

Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...

 in the Atractaspididae

Atractaspididae

The Atractaspididae are a family of snakes found in Africa and the Middle East. Currently, 12 genera are recognized.-Description:This family includes many genera formerly classed in other families, on the basis of fang type. It includes fangless , rear-fanged , fixed-fanged , and viper-like species...

 family. The specific epithet, aterrima, meaning "blackest", is the superlative form of the Latin

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

adjective ater, meaning "black".

Description

It is totally black or dark brown. Adults may reach a total length of 65 cm (25½ inches), with a tail 3 cm (1⅛ inch) long. The dorsal scales are in 19 or 21 rows. Ventrals 251-300; anal entire; subcaudals single (not paired) 18-24. Five upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye, fourth largest. A large temporal, wedged in between the fourth and fifth upper labials. First lower labial in contact with its fellow behind the mental; three lower labials in contact with the chin shields, third extremely large.