title: Atractaspis leucomelas
text: # Atractaspis leucomelas
  
  Atractaspis leucomelas, or the Ogaden burrowing asp, is a species of venomous snake in the Atractaspididae family.
  
  ## Etymology
  
  The specific epithet, leucomelas, is derived from Neo-Latin leuco ("white") and Greek μέλας (melas,"black"), and refers to this snake's "white and black" coloration.
  
  ## Geographic range
  
  It is endemic to Africa. The type locality is "Ogaden, Somaliland".
  
  ## Description
  
  Dorsally black, with a white vertebral line, occupying one row plus two half rows of dorsal scales. Head white, with a black blotch covering the nasals and the upper head shields; neck entirely black. Ventrals and subcaudals, and four adjacent dorsal scale rows on each side, white.
  
  Snout very short. Portion of rostral visible from above nearly as long as its distance from the frontal. Suture between the internasals half as long as the suture between the prefrontals. Frontal one and two fifths as long as broad, much longer than its distance from the end of the snout.
  
  Dorsal scales in 23 rows. Ventrals 243; anal entire; subcaudals 27, nearly all entire.
  
  The holotype specimen, a female, is 57.5 cm (22+5⁄8 in) in total length, with a tail 4 cm (1+1⁄2 in) long.
  
  