Common names: Natal

Natal

Natal as an adjective refers to birth. As a proper noun, Natal may refer to:-Places:As a place name, Natal usually relates to the Portuguese word for Christmas. For example, Vasco da Gama named the South African region of Natal after passing there on Christmas Day 1497, and the village that became...

 black snake.

Macrelaps is a monotypic

Monotypic

In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...

 genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 created for the rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) venomous snake

Venomous snake

"Poisonous snake" redirects here. For true poisonous snakes, see Rhabdophis.Venomous snakes are snakes which have venom glands and specialized teeth for the injection of venom...

 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...

, M. microlepidotus, endemic to South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. No subspecies

Subspecies

Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

 are currently recognized.

Description (diagnosis) of genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

Maxillary short, with four moderately large teeth, followed by a very large grooved fang situated below the eye. Anterior mandibular teeth enlarged, third to fifth longest. Head small, not distinct from neck. Eye minute, with round pupil. Nasal divided. No loreal. No preocular. Prefrontal entering the eye. Body cylindrical; tail short. Dorsal scales smooth, without pits, in 25 or 27 rows. Ventrals rounded; subcaudals single.

Description of 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...

Macrelaps microlepidotus is completely black dorsally and ventrally.

It may attain 85 cm (33½ inches) in total length, with a tail 10.5 cm (4⅛ inches) long.

Smooth dorsal scales arranged in 25 or 27 rows. Ventrals 163-166; anal plate entire; subcaudals 37-48, also entire.

Portion of rostral visible from above nearly half as long as its distance from the frontal. Internasals shorter than the prefrontals. Frontal as long as broad, as long as its distance from the end of the snout, much shorter than the parietals. One small postocular. Temporals 1+2. Seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye, fifth largest. Three or four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. Anterior chin shields a little longer than the posterior chin shields.