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Definition of burrowing asp

burrowing asp

Plural:burrowing asps
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• noun

1

Any of various venomous, fossorial snakes of the family Atractaspididae, native primarily to Africa and the Middle East, characterized by a subterranean lifestyle and highly mobile, side-stabbing fangs that allow them to envenomate prey without fully opening their mouths.

Example

"While conducting field research in sub-Saharan Africa, the herpetologist documented the subterranean hunting habits of the burrowing asp."

Word Nuance & Usage

Handling a burrowing asp is notoriously dangerous because its unique fang structure allows it to bite sideways even when gripped safely behind the head, a common technique for restraining other snakes.

• Nearby Words

burro
burrow
burrower
burrowing asp
bursa
bursar
bursary

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Burrowing asp. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/burrowing-asp
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