Mole Viper
Atractaspis bibronii
Silhouette: Ignazio Avella · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyAtractaspididae (Atractaspidid Snakes)
- GenusAtractaspis (Burrowing Asps)
- SpeciesAtractaspis bibronii (Mole Viper)
About the Mole Viper
Atractaspis bibronii is a species of venomous snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is endemic to southern Africa. There are no subspecies that are recognised as being valid. Its common names are the Southern stiletto snake, Bibron's stiletto snake, Side-stabbing snake; previously it was known as Bibron's burrowing asp, Bibron's mole viper, and the mole adder.
The specific epithet, bibronii, is in honour of French herpetologist Gabriel Bibron. Adults of A. bibronii average 30–40 cm (12–16 in) in total length (including tail), with a maximum total length of 55 cm (21+3⁄4 in). The dorsum is a uniform grey or dark brown to black colour. The belly is a uniform white, or pale yellow in colour, with a series of dark blotches. In specimens with a lighter belly colouration, the belly colouration may also include two or three scale rows on the flanks.
The snout is prominent and subcuneiform. The portion of the rostral visible from above is as long as or a little shorter than its distance from the frontal. The dorsals are in 21 or 23 rows at midbody. The ventrals number 221-260. The anal is entire. The subcaudals number 20-23, of which all or the greater... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Mole Viper in Kruger National Park
LIVEiNaturalist
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Gorongosa National Park | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | |
| 3 | Gonarezhou National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 4 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 5 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 6 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 7 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 8 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 9 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Mole Viper in Kruger National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mole Viper sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Mole Viper in Kruger National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Mole Viper in Kruger National Park in our monthly data.