[1] Species of the genus Atractaspis are found mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a limited distribution in the Jordan valley in Israel, Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula.

Venom fangs enormously developed; a few teeth on the palatines, none on the pterygoids; mandibles edentulous anteriorly, with 2 or 3 very small teeth in the middle of the dentary bone.

Head small, not distinct from neck, covered with large symmetrical shields; nostril between 2 nasals; no loreal; eye minute, with round pupil.

Body cylindrical; dorsal scales smooth, without apical pits, in 17 to 37 rows; ventrals rounded.

[6] rostrata Burrowing Asp *) A taxon author in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Atractaspis.