A genus of venomous snakes found in Africa and the Middle East, known for their small size and burrowing habits.
From Greek 'atraktos' meaning 'spindle' or 'pointed stick' plus 'aspis' meaning 'shield' or 'snake,' referring to the snake's pointed shape and serpentine nature.
Atractaspis snakes are called 'burrowing asps' and have an unusual hunting trick: they can inject venom sideways without opening their mouth much, making them uniquely dangerous in their underground tunnels!
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