Atractaspis congica, or the Congo burrowing asp, 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. It is endemic to Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

.

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 45 cm (17¾ inches), with a tail 3.5 cm (1⅜ inch) long.