Amblyodipsas katangensis

Amblyodipsas katangensis, or the Katanga purple-glossed snake, is a species of rear-fanged mildly venomous snake in the family Lamprophiidae. The species is endemic to Africa.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

• Amblyodipsas katangensis ionidesi Loveridge, 1951
• Amblyodipsas katangensis katangensis de Witte & Laurent, 1942

Geographic range

A. katangensis katangensis is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. A. katangensis ionidesi is found in Tanzania.

Etymology

The subspecific name, ionidesi, is in honor of British game warden Constantine John Philip Ionides (1901–1968), who was known as the "Snake Man of British East Africa".

Reproduction

A. katangensis is oviparous.

References

Further reading

• de Witte GF, Laurent R (1942). "Contribution à la Faune Herpétologique du Congo belge ". Revue de zoologie et de botanique africaines 36 (2): 101–115. (Amblyodipsas katangensis, new species, p. 113). (in French).
• Branch, Bill (2005). A Photographic Guide to Snakes, Other Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 67.