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Amblyodipsas microphthalma (BIANCONI, 1852)

IUCN Red List - Amblyodipsas microphthalma - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaAtractaspididae (Aparallactinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
SubspeciesAmblyodipsas microphthalma microphthalma (BIANCONI 1852)
Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra JACOBSEN 1986 
Common NamesE: Eastern Purple-glossed Snake
nigra: Soutpansberg Purple-glossed Snake 
SynonymCalamaria microphthalma BIANCONI 1852: 94
Calamaria microphthalma — BIANCONI 1853: 167
Amblyodipsas microphthalma — JAN 1865
Amblyodipsas microphthalma — BOULENGER 1896: 244
Amblyodipsas microphthalma — PIENAAR 1978
Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra JACOBSEN 1986
Amblyodipsas microphthalma — DE WITTE & LAURENT 1947
Amblyodipsas (Amblyodipsas) microphthalma — BROADLEY 1971
Amblyodipsas microphthalma — WELCH 1994: 15
Amblyodipsas microphthalma — LOBO & QUINTEROS 2005
Amblyodipsas microphthalma — WALLACH et al. 2014: 26
Xenocalamus microphthalma — WALLACH 2025

Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra JACOBSEN 1986
Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra — KIRCHHOF et al. 2010
Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra — BATES et al. 2014: 345
Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra — STANDER 2023: 252 
DistributionS Mozambique, Republic of South Africa (NE Transvaal, N Zululand)

nigra: Vicinity of the Soutpansberg (Transvaal)  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: MZUB (IBI, Bologna)
Holotype: DNMNH (= TM) 58428 [nigra] 
DiagnosisUnfortunately we had to temporarily remove additional information as this was scraped by multiple AI companies who sell that data to their customers. These details, e.g. detailed descriptions or comparisons (about 2246 characters), are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. 
CommentVenomous!

Type species: Calamaria microphthalma BIANCONI 1852 is the type species of the genus Amblyodipsas PETERS 1857. Note that the genus Amblyodipsas has also been included in the family Natricidae (e.g. by BÖHME et al. 2011: 59)

Phylogenetics: see Portillo et al. 2018 for a phylogenetic analysis of members of Aparallactinae, inlcuding members of Amblyodipsas.

Subspecies: A. m. nigra is entirely black, both above and below. 
EtymologyNamed after the Greek micros (= small) and Greek ophthalmos = eye, face.

The genus was named after Greek “amblys” = weak, blunt, apparently after the blunt snout and/or tail tip. The name -dipsas is derived from Greek διψάς = a venomous snake. 
References
  • Bates, M.F.; Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M.; Burger, M., Marais, J.; Alexander, G.J. & de Villliers, M.S. (eds.) 2014. Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, 512 pp.
  • Bianconi, J. J. 1853. Specimina Zoologica Mosambicana VI. Mem. Acad. Sci. Ist. Bologna 4: 167-169 + 1 plate - get paper here
  • Bianconi, J.J. 1852. Specimina Zoologica Mosambicana. p. 94 (fide Boulenger 1896: 244) - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the snakes in the British Museum, Vol. 3. London (Taylor & Francis), xiv + 727 pp. - get paper here
  • Broadley, D. G. 1971. A revision of the African snake genera Amblyodipsas and Xenocalamus. Occ. Pap. natl. Mus. Rhod. B4 (33): 629-697
  • Jacobsen, N.H.G. 1986. A new subspecies of Amblyodipsas microphthalma (Bianconi,1850) (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Transvaal. Annals Transvaal Mus. 34 (5): 123-127. - get paper here
  • Jacobsen, Niels H.G.; Errol W. Pietersen & Darren W. Pietersen 2010. A preliminary herpetological survey of the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary on the San Sebastian Peninsula, Vilankulo, Mozambique. Herpetology Notes 3: 181-193
  • Jan, G. 1865. Iconographie générale des ophidiens. 14. Livraison. [Elapomorphus d’Orbignyi, Coronella getulus var. Sayi]. J.B. Bailière et Fils, Paris - get paper here
  • Jordaan, P.R., Steyl, J.C.A., Hanekom, C.C., Xander Combrink 2020. Fire-associated reptile mortality in Tembe Elephant Park, South Africa. Fire Ecol (2020) 16: 3 - get paper here
  • Kirchhof, S., M. Krämer, J. Linden & K. Richter 2010. The reptile species assemblage of the Soutpansberg (Limpopo Province, South Africa) and its characteristics. Salamandra 46 (3): 147-166 - get paper here
  • Kirchhof, S.; Engleder, A.; Mayer, W. & Richter, K. 2011. Die Radiation der Lacertiden des südlichen Afrikas. Elaphe 19 (4): 6-11
  • Peters, Wilhem Carl Hartwig 1857. Über Amblyodipsas, eine neue Schlangengattung aus Mossambique. Monatsberichte der königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1856 (Dezember): 592-595 - get paper here
  • Pietersen, Darren W. Pietersen, Errol W. Haacke, Wulf D. 2013. First herpetological appraisal of the Parque Nacional de Banhine, Gaza Province, southern Mozambique. Annals of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History 3: 153-163 - get paper here
  • Portillo, F., Branch, W.R., Conradie, W., Rödel, M-O., Penner, J., Barej, M.F., Kusamba, C., Muninga, W.M., Aristote, M.M., Bauer, A.M., Trape, J-F., Nagy, Z.T., Carlino, P., Pauwels, O.S.G., Menegon, M., Burger, M., Mazuch, T., Jackson, K., Hughes, 2018. Phylogeny and biogeography of the African burrowing snake subfamily Aparallactinae (Squamata: Lamprophiidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - get paper here
  • Stander, R.I. 2023. The Reptiles of the Limpopo Province and Kruger National Park. Herp Nomad, Polokwane, South Africa, 367 pp. - get paper here
  • Tolley, K.A., Conradie, W., Pietersen, D.W., Weeber, J., Burger, M. & Alexander, G.J. (eds) 2023. Conservation status of the reptiles of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. Suricata 10. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria
  • Wallach, Van; Kenneth L. Williams , Jeff Boundy 2014. Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. [type catalogue] Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, 1237 pp.
  • Witte, G. F. de & LAURENT,R.F. 1947. Revision d'un groupe de Colubridae africains: genres Calamelaps, Miodon, Aparallactus, et formes affines. Mém. Mus. Roy. Hist. Nat. Belgique (sér. 2) 29: 1-134 - get paper here
 
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