Nyoka Mchimbaji

Nyoka wachimbaji ni nyoka wenye sumu wa jenasi Atractaspis katika familia Lamprophiidae. Wana jina hili kwa sababu huchimba ardhini.

Nyoka hawa ni wafupi na wembamba lakini spishi kadhaa zinaweza kuwa nene kiasi. Urefu wao ni sm 30-70 na m moja kwa kipeo. Rangi yao ni nyeusi, kijivu au kahawia. Spishi mbili kutoka Pembe ya Afrika, nyoka mchimbaji wa Ogadeni na nyoka mchimbaji Somali, zina mabaka meupe kichwani au kichwa kizima ni cheupe.

Nyoka wachimbaji huishi katika vishimo au katika udongo au mchanga tebwere. Hula mijusi wenye ngozi nyororo, amfibia na nyoka wadogo, na hukamata wagugunaji katika vishimo vyao.

Chonge ni meno ya mbele. Nyoka hafungui mdomo lakini anavuta kidevu nyuma na kuzungusha chonge kuelekea mbele na kupota kichwa kitongo, chini na nyuma ili kudunga mhanga. Anaweza kufanya hii hata akishikwa kwa kichwa na mtu, kwa hivyo hata wataalamu wa nyoka wanaweza kudungwa. Hatari ni kama nyoka hawa wanafanana na nyoka wengine wasiodhuru. Kwa bahati nzuri sumu ya nyoka hawa siyo hatari sana isipokuwa ile ya nyoka wakubwa wa spishi kadhaa kama nyoka mchimbaji kijivu.

Spishi
 Atractaspis andersonii, Nyoka Mchimbaji Arabu (Arabian small-scaled burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis aterrima, Nyoka Mchimbaji Mwembamba (Slender burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis battersbyi, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Battersby (Battersby's burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis bibronii, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Bibron (Bibron's burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis boulengeri, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Afrika ya Kati (Central Arican burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis congica, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Kongo (Congo burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis corpulenta, Nyoka Mchimbaji Mnene (Fat burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis dahomeyensis, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Benini (Dahomey burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis duerdeni, Nyoka Mchimbaji Pua-ndefu (Beaked burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis engaddensis, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Israel (En-Gedi burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis engdahli, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Engdahl (Engdahl's burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis fallax, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Peters (Peters's burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis irregularis, Nyoka Mchimbaji Mweusi (Variable burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis leucomelas, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Ogadeni (Ogaden burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis magrettii, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Magretti (Magretti's burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis microlepidota, Nyoka Mchimbaji Kijivu (Small-scaled burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis micropholis, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Saheli (Sahelian burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis phillipsi, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Phillips (Phillips's burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis reticulata, Nyoka Mchimbaji Madoadoa (Reticulate burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis scorteccii, Nyoka Mchimbaji Somali (Somali burrowing asp)
 Atractaspis watsoni, Nyoka Mchimbaji wa Watson (Watson's burrowing asp)

Marejeo
 Spawls, S., Howell, K., Drewes, R. & Ashe, J. (2002) A field guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, USA.

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