A8srRAcr.-Eramination and diss€ction of m$eun 3pe.imetu, .ombined w h observations of fr€er.nginA and .aptive sn.kes, provi.t€d oriSinal data on morpholoSy/ lerual .limorph&m, feeding habib, and reprodu.tive biology of shieldnose sn.kes iAsprdeJ.ps s.rr,tus) Irom souihern Afii.a. The6e small (to 60 cm onoui-vent length) stoclily-built snak€s are nocturnal, and often fossorial, F€males mature at larger siz€s thnn males, and a ain lar8d m.ximum 3ias. Ar th€ 3ame body length, ma16 have longer taile, and long€r and wid€r h€ads, than d o .onsp€ cifi. Iemales. The s€x diveraence in nead 3iz6 and dnap6 may be relared to dietary difrerences betw€en the sex€s: males .otrtain€d. signid.antly hi8l€r propoilion of anuran p.ey, and fewer 3naker and mamm.ls, than did conspecific lemales. Howev€r, 6ampl€ 6izes for this .ompariron w.ie 6mall. Reproduction is 3trongly seasonal, with mating in spiing (October), oviposition in midsummcr (D€c€mb€r-l.nu.ry), and hakhing in.utrmn (Mar.h). Femaled laid 4 ro rc eggs (me!n : 7,9), with clutch rize, €gtg siz€, and Relative Clrt.h Mds (RCM) independenr of maternal lody sia. Offdpdng averaged 16 cm (5 g) and RCM aveiaAed 0,48.

The berg adder Bitis atropos is a small adder normally associated with mountainous areas in southern Africa. In the Transvaal this species is known to occur along the Drakensberg escarpment of the eastern and northern Transvaal. This paper reports on 19 new localities, extending the known range in a southerly and south-easterly direction. These localities are listed with notes on altitude, as well as notes on the sex, colour and reproductive status of the berg adder. Additional museum material and literature records are included to update the currently known distribution of the species in the Transvaal and Swaziland.

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