North Africa 



It aviiids pxtreme desert situations and also permanently 

 moist ones. Like many snakes it often makes its home 

 in abandoned rodent burrows. 



It em arks: AVhile there are reports of aggressive be- 

 havior by Egyptian cobras, this is exceptional. They 

 seem to be rather timid snakes and often make little 

 effort to defend themselves. The hood is not so wide as 

 in the Indian cobra. 



The cobra tyjie of defense with the body raised high 

 off tlie ground and neck spread is impressive and help- 

 ful in recognition of these snakes when they are alive. 

 It is important to remember, however, that cobras may 

 bite without spreading the hood and occasionally may 

 spread the hood without rearing up the forebody. It 

 should also be noted that many unrelated nonpoisonous 

 snakes in various parts of the world spread the neck 

 and forebody. 



The venom is of about the same degree of toxicity as 

 that of the Indian cobra. If Cleopatra really used one 

 of Egypt's snakes as an instrument of suicide, this 

 species would have been a wise choice. Antivenin 

 against venom of this cobra is (jroduced by the Institut 

 Pasteur, Paris, and BehringwcrUc, Marliurg-Lahn, Ger- 

 man.v. 



This cobra i.s the sacred snake (I'raeus) of ancient 

 Egy])t and is probably the snake known as asp to the 

 classical writers of Greece and Home. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Walterinnesia Lataste, 1887. 

 Desert blaok snake. 



A single species, ir. a en y jit in. is known fmm the 

 de.sert regions of Egypt to Iran. It is relatively large, 

 3 to 4 feet, and is probably a dangerous species. 



Drfinitiiin: Head relatively broad, flattened, distinct 

 from neck; snout broad, a distinct cant litis. Body cylin- 

 drical and tapered, moderately slender: tail short. 



Eyes moderate in size; pupils round. 



Head scales: The usual 9 on the crown; rostral 

 broad. Laterall.v, nasal in contact with single elongate 

 preocular. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth at midbod.v, feebly 

 keeled posteri(nly, in 2.3 rows at midbody, more (27) 

 anteriorly. Ventrals 189-197; anal plate divided; sub- 

 caudals 45—18. first 2-8 single, remainder paired. 



Maxillary teeth : Two large tubular fangs with ex- 

 ternal grooves followed, after an interspare. by 0-2 small 

 teeth. 



Desert Black Snake, Wiilfrri>u}psla aegyptin Lu- 

 tuste. 



Itlriitiftcatiiiii : A moderately stout snake with short 

 tail and small head not distinct from neck : crown with 

 large shields. The following combination of scale char- 

 acters is useful in distinguishing this species from non- 

 poisonous snakes and cobras : 1. Loreal plate absent ; 



2. Dorsal scales smooth anteriorly, keeled posteriorly ; 



3. Anal plate divided ; 4. Some single subcaudals. al- 

 though most are paired. 



Adults uniformly black or very dark brown or gra.v 



above, a little paler vent rally. Young, in Iran at least, 

 have narrow light crossbands. 



Average length 3 to 3^j feet ; maximum a little over 

 4 feet. 



Distribution: Egypt and the nations of the Near and 

 Middle East. Reported most frequently from gardens, 

 oases and irrigated areas ; also inhabits barren rocky 

 mountain hillsides and sandy desert with sparse bushes. 

 A rather rare snake. 



Remarks: Does not rear up or spread hood but when 

 annoyed may strike more than half its length. The 

 high gloss of its scales helps to distinguish this species 

 from the duller Egyptian cobra. 



Toxicity of the venom for experimental animals Is 

 about the same as that of the Indian cobra but quantity 

 is considerably less (about 20 mg. vs. 50 to 100 mg. ). 

 There is no antivenin available. 



Figure 50. — Desert Black Snake. Wattcri>i7icsia acgyptia. 

 The highly glossy scales help to differentiate this 

 snake from other dark species within its range. 

 Photo courtesy Standard Oil Company. 



VIPERIDAE: Genus Atradaspis Smith, 1949. 

 Mule vipers. 



Sixteen species are currently recognized. All are Afri- 

 can except for A. engaddcnsis Haas (which ranges from 

 Egypt to Israel) and .1. microlcpidota (which is found 



81 



