Atractaspis dahomeyensis, or the Dahomey 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.

Description

Atractaspis dahomeyensis is black dorsally. It is brown ventrally, and the ventral scales are edged with lighter brown.

Snout prominent and cuneiform. Dorsal scales arranged in 31 rows. Ventrals 240; anal entire; subcaudals 24, partly entire, partly divided.

Total length 49 cm (19¼ inches); tail 32 mm (1¼ inch).