Micrelaps muelleri

Micrelaps muelleri is a species of venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to the Middle East.

Micrelaps muelleri
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Lamprophiidae
Genus:	Micrelaps
Species:	M. muelleri
Binomial name
Micrelaps muelleri Boettger, 1880

Common names: Müller's black-headed snake,[1] Mueller's two-headed snake, Erdviper.[2]

Taxonomy

There are no subspecies of M. muelleri that are recognized as being valid.[3] M. muelleri is the type species for the genus Micrelaps.[2]

Etymology

The specific name, muelleri, is in honor of Swiss herpetologist Fritz Müller.[1]

Geographic range

M. muelleri is found in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.[2]

Description

M. muelleri is black, with whitish zigzag-edged rings, which may be narrower or wider than the spaces between them, mostly interrupted ventrally.

Adults may attain a total length of 40.5 cm (15.9 in), which includes a tail 3 cm (1.2 in) long.

The dorsal scales are smooth, without apical pits, and arranged in 15 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 251-275. The anal plate is divided. The subcaudals, which are also divided, number 26-32.

The head is very flattened. The rostral is nearly twice as broad as deep, just visible from above. The internasals are a little broader than long, shorter than the prefrontals. The frontal is small, not broader than the supraocular, 1⅔ times as long as broad, hardly as long as its distance from the rostral, half as long as the parietals. Each supraocular is as long as broad. A small postocular is in contact with the first temporal. The temporals are arranged 1+1 or 1+2. There are seven upper labials, the third and fourth entering the eye. There are three or four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. The anterior chin shields are as long as the posterior chin shields.[4]

Reproduction

M. muelleri is oviparous.[2]

Habitat

The preferred habitats of M. muelleri include Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and arable land.[5]

Conservation status

The species M. muelleri is classified as Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).[5] This is because it does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened. Widespread and abundant species are included in this category. Year assessed: 2005.[6]

References

1. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Micrelaps muelleri, p. 184).
2. Species Micrelaps muelleri at The Reptile Database. Accessed 17 August 2007.
3. "Micrelaps muelleri ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
4. Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), Amblycephalidæ, and Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Micrelaps muelleri, p. 249).
5. Micrelaps muelleri at IUCN Red List. Accessed 17 August 2007.
6. 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) IUCN Red List. Accessed 17 August 2007.

Further reading

Böttger O (1880). "Die Reptilien und Amphibien von Syrien, Palaestina und Cypern ". Bericht über die Senckenbergische naturforschende Gesellschaft in Frankurt am Main 1880: 132-219. (Micrelaps muelleri, new species, pp. 137–138). (In German and Latin).