Causus bilineatus

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Caenophidia
Superfamilia: Viperoidea

Familia: Viperidae
Subfamilia: Causinae
Genus: Causus
Species: Causus bilineatus
Name

Causus bilineatus Boulenger, 1905

Holotype: BMNH 1905.5.29.36-40.

Type locality: “between Benguella and Bihe”.
References
Links

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2021. Causus bilineatus. The Reptile Database. Accessed on 22 October 2018.

Vernacular names
English: Two-Striped Night Adder

Causus bilineatus is a venomous viper species endemic to south central Africa.[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3][4] Common names include lined night adder,[2] two-lined night adder,[3] and two-striped night adder.[3][5]

Description

The average total length (body + tail) is 30–50 cm (12–20 in) with a reported maximum of 65 cm (26 in).[2]

The head is slightly distinct from the neck, while the snout is fairly long and tapering. Midbody there are 15–18 rows of dorsal scales that are weakly keeled and have a soft and velvety appearance. The ventral scales number 122–141 in males and 128–144 in females. There are 18–30 subcaudals.[2]

The color pattern consists of an ash to auburn to brown ground color, overlaid with numerous irregular or vaguely rectangular black dorsal patches. These patches lie within two distinct and narrow pale stripes that run the length of the body. The belly color is dark to dark cream.[2]
Geographic range

Causus bilineatus is found in Angola, Zambia, southern DR Congo, Rwanda, and western Tanzania.[3]

The type locality is given by Boulenger (1905) as "between Benguella and Bihé" (Angola). Bocage (1895) listed "Duque de Bragança, Quissange, Caconda, and Huilla" (Angola) for the localities.[1]
Habitat

Occurs in moist savanna, forest-savanna environments, and swampy habitats. Wild-caught specimens found to have eaten clawed frogs, Xenopus, suggest a more aquatic nature than other species.[2]
Feeding

Preys mostly upon toads and frogs, particularly the clawed frog, Xenopus.[2]
References

McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company. Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
Causus bilineatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 June 2021.
"Causus bilineatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 20 June 2021.

Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.