Daboia palaestinae

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Daboia palaestinae
Vipera palaestina.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Daboia
Species:
D. palaestinae
Binomial name
Daboia palaestinae
F. Werner, 1938
Daboia palaestinae distribution.png
Synonyms [2]
  • Vipera palaestinaeF. Werner, 1938
  • Vipera xanthina palaestinae
    — Mertens, 1952
  • Vipera palistinae [sic] Minton, 1971
  • Daboia (Daboia) palaestinae
    — Obst, 1983
  • Daboia palestinae [sic]
    — Esterbauer, 1987
  • Vipera palgestinae [sic]
    Garcia, Huang & Perez, 1989
  • Vipera palaestinae
    — Golay et al., 1993

Daboia palaestinae, also known as the Palestine viper, [3] [4] [5] [6] is a viper species endemic to the Levant. [2] [5] Like all vipers, it is venomous. It is considered a leading cause of snakebite within its range. [7] No subspecies are currently recognized. [8]

Contents

Description

D. palaestinae Vipera palaestinae - D7-12-5116.JPG
D. palaestinae

It grows to an average total length (body + tail) of 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 in), with a maximum total length of 130 cm (51 in). [3] The head is triangular, distinct from the neck and covered by small scales. The upper part of the body is colored by large dark rhomboid blotches sometimes forming a zig-zag pattern. [9]

The harmless coin-marked snake, which lives in the same areas as the Palestine viper, resembles it in length, coloration and defensive behavior, to the extent that people frequently get confused between them. This is probably a case of Batesian mimicry. [10]

Geographic range

It is found in northern and central Israel, Palestine, western Syria, northwestern Jordan, and Lebanon. [2] [5] [6] In 2017 a specimen was found in Turkey. [11] Mallow et al. (2003) describe the range as relatively restricted, with the distribution being concentrated in the Mediterranean coastal plains to the inland hills of Lebanon and Israel, along with the adjoining regions of Syria and Jordan. [3]

The type locality given is "Haifa, Israel". [2]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001). [6] It was given this status due to its relatively wide distribution, the fact that it is found in a wide range of habitats, its presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The population trend is unknown. Year assessed: 2005. [12]

Taxonomy

The classification of this species has resulted in much taxonomic controversy. Before Franz Werner (1938), this snake was included in Montivipera xanthina , and subsequently synonymized with V. lebetina by Boulenger (1896). Mertens (1952) moved it back to M. xanthina as a subspecies, and more recently a number of authorities, including Obst (1983) and Mallow et al. (2003) have included it as part of the genus Daboia . [3] The result is that many studies related to this medically significant species have been published under different scientific names. [3]

Venom

The LD50 of this viper's venom is 0.34 mg/kg. [13] Since the second half of the 20th century there is an antivenom for this snake's venom, which is considered safe and effective. [14] [15] But occasionally people still die from this snake's bite. The mortality rate of people who were bitten is 0.5% to 2%. [16] At least 7 people were reported to die of this snake's bite in the 21st century in Israel so far. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

The venom includes at least four families of pharmacologically active compounds: (i) neurotoxins; (ii) hemorrhagins; (iii) angioneurin growth factors; and (iv) different types of integrin inhibitors. [16]

Reproduction

The copulation of this snake takes place around May. [24] Unlike most other vipers, who are viviparous, [25] this snake is oviparous. [24] It lays eggs around August and the eggs hatch 1.5–2 months after that. [26] [24] The young snakes can bite and kill their prey with a developed venom apparatus. [26]

In culture

This snake is probably mentioned in a list of venomous snakes in ancient Egypt, that appears in the Brooklyn Papyrus from the first millennium BC. [27]

Some modern scholars and commentators have identified the צפע (pronounced Tsefa/Zefa) snake mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as this snake species. [26] [28] The name given to this snake in modern Hebrew is צפע מצוי (common Tsefa). [29]

The code phrase “Nahash Tsefa” (Viper Snake) was broadcast on the radio and TV to instruct Israeli citizens to put on their gas masks during missile attacks from Iraq against Israel, in the first Gulf War in 1991. [30]

In the Israeli Air Force the Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter was named Tzefa. [31] The IDF's paratroopers battalion #202 is called Tzefa Battalion. [32]

In 2018 the viper was declared Israel's national snake. [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antivenom</span> Medical treatment for venomous bites and stings

Antivenom, also known as antivenin, venom antiserum, and antivenom immunoglobulin, is a specific treatment for envenomation. It is composed of antibodies and used to treat certain venomous bites and stings. Antivenoms are recommended only if there is significant toxicity or a high risk of toxicity. The specific antivenom needed depends on the species involved. It is given by injection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viperidae</span> Family of snakes

The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, New Zealand, Ireland, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long, hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of their venom. Three subfamilies are currently recognized. They are also known as viperids. The name "viper" is derived from the Latin word vipera, -ae, also meaning viper, possibly from vivus ("living") and parere, referring to the trait viviparity common in vipers like most of the species of Boidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snakebite</span> Injury caused by bite from snakes

A snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake, especially a venomous snake. A common sign of a bite from a venomous snake is the presence of two puncture wounds from the animal's fangs. Sometimes venom injection from the bite may occur. This may result in redness, swelling, and severe pain at the area, which may take up to an hour to appear. Vomiting, blurred vision, tingling of the limbs, and sweating may result. Most bites are on the hands, arms, or legs. Fear following a bite is common with symptoms of a racing heart and feeling faint. The venom may cause bleeding, kidney failure, a severe allergic reaction, tissue death around the bite, or breathing problems. Bites may result in the loss of a limb or other chronic problems or even death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adder</span> Species of venomous snake

Vipera berus, also known as the common European adder and the common European viper, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is extremely widespread and can be found throughout much of Europe, and as far as East Asia. There are three recognised subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snake venom</span> Highly modified saliva containing zootoxins

Snake venom is a highly toxic saliva containing zootoxins that facilitates in the immobilization and digestion of prey. This also provides defense against threats. Snake venom is injected by unique fangs during a bite, whereas some species are also able to spit venom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell's viper</span> Species of venomous snake

Russell's viper is a highly venomous snake in the family Viperidae native to the Indian subcontinent and one of the big four snakes in India. It was described in 1797 by George Shaw and Frederick Polydore Nodder, and named after Patrick Russell, who wrote about it in his 1796 work An account of Indian serpents, collected on the coast of Coromandel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Four (Indian snakes)</span> Group of venomous Indian snakes

The four venomous snake species responsible for causing the greatest number of medically significant human snake bite cases on the Indian subcontinent are sometimes collectively referred to as the Big Four. They are as follows:

  1. Russell's viper, Daboia russelii
  2. Common krait, Bungarus caeruleus
  3. Indian cobra, Naja naja
  4. Indian saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus
<i>Macrovipera</i> Genus of snakes

Macrovipera, known as the large Palearctic vipers, is a genus of vipers that inhabit the semideserts and steppes of North Africa, the Near and Middle East, and the Milos Archipelago in the Aegean Sea. Like all other vipers, they are venomous. These snakes are responsible for a number of bites in Africa and Western Asia every year. They have a reputation for being ill-tempered and can inject a lot of venom, which is why they should be considered as very dangerous. Two species are currently recognized.

<i>Vipera</i> Genus of snakes

Vipera is a genus of vipers. It has a very wide range, being found from North Africa to just within the Arctic Circle and from Great Britain to Pacific Asia. The Latin name vīpera is possibly derived from the Latin words vivus and pario, meaning "alive" and "bear" or "bring forth"; likely a reference to the fact that most vipers bear live young. Currently, 21 species are recognized. Like all other vipers, the members of this genus are venomous.

<i>Vipera aspis</i> Species of snake

Vipera aspis is a viper species found in southwestern Europe. Its common names include asp, asp viper, European asp, and aspic viper, among others. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. Bites from this species can be more severe than from the European adder, V. berus; not only can they be very painful, but approximately 4% of all untreated bites are fatal. The specific epithet, aspis, is a Greek word that means "viper." Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Daboia siamensis</i> Species of snake

Daboia siamensis is a venomous viper species, which is endemic to parts of Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of Daboia russelii, but was elevated to species status in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horned adder</span> Species of snake

The horned adder is a viper species. It is found in the arid region of southwest Africa, in Angola, Botswana, Namibia; South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It is easily distinguished by the presence of a single, large horn-like scale over each eye. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

<i>Cerastes vipera</i> Species of snake

Cerastes vipera, common names Sahara sand viper and Avicenna viper, is a viper species endemic to the deserts of North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanon viper</span> Species of reptile

The Lebanon viper, also known as Bornmueller's viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to Western Asia. There are no recognized subspecies.

<i>Montivipera xanthina</i> Species of snake

Montivipera xanthina, known as the rock viper, coastal viper, Ottoman viper, and by other common names, is a viper species found in northeastern Greece and Turkey, as well as certain islands in the Aegean Sea. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persian horned viper</span> Species of snake

The Persian horned viper, known as the Persian horned viper, false horned viper, and by other common names, is a species of vipers endemic to the Middle East and Asia. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epidemiology of snakebites</span>

Most snakebites are caused by non-venomous snakes. Of the roughly 3,700 known species of snake found worldwide, only 15% are considered dangerous to humans. Snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are two major families of venomous snakes, Elapidae and Viperidae. 325 species in 61 genera are recognized in the family Elapidae and 224 species in 22 genera are recognized in the family Viperidae, In addition, the most diverse and widely distributed snake family, the colubrids, has approximately 700 venomous species, but only five genera—boomslangs, twig snakes, keelback snakes, green snakes, and slender snakes—have caused human fatalities.

<i>Atractaspis engaddensis</i> Species of reptile

Atractaspis engaddensis, also known as the Israeli Mole Viper or "الأسود الخبيث" or "שרף עין גדי" and "צפעון שחור" is a venomous snake found in Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The specific epithet references the type locality, Ein Gedi on the western shore of the Dead Sea.

<i>Daboia</i> Genus of snakes

Daboia is a genus of venomous vipers.

References

  1. ↑ Hraoui-Bloquet, S.; Sadek, R.; Werner, Y. (2009). "Daboia palaestinae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009: e.T61495A12482149. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61495A12482149.en . Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN   0-89464-877-2.
  4. ↑ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN   0-8069-6460-X.
  5. 1 2 3 O'Shea, Mark (2008). Venomous Snakes of the World (Illustrated ed.). New Holland Publishers. p. 60. ISBN   978-1-84773-086-2.
  6. 1 2 3 Daboia palaestinae at the IUCN Red List . Accessed 2 September 2007.
  7. ↑ U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN   0-486-26629-X.
  8. ↑ "Vipera palaestinae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 18 August 2006.
  9. ↑ El‐Oran, Ratib M.; Al‐Melhem, Walid N.; Amr, Zuhair S. (1994-01-01). "Snakes of southern Jordan". Bollettino di zoologia. 61 (4): 364. doi:10.1080/11250009409355907. ISSN   0373-4137.
  10. ↑ Yehuda L. Werner & Eliezer Frankenberg (1982), HEAD TRIANGULATION IN TWO COLUBRINE SNAKES: PROBABLE BEHAVIOURAL REINFORCEMENT OF BATESIAN MIMICRY, Israel Journal of Zoology, 31:3-4, 137-150, DOI: 10.1080/00212210.1982.10688526
  11. ↑ Göçmen, B., Karış, M., Özmen, E. and Oğuz, M. A. (2018). First record of the Palestine Viper Vipera palaestinae (Sepentes: Viperidae) from Anatolia. South Western Journal of Horticulture, Biology and Environment, 9: 87–90.
  12. ↑ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List . Accessed 2 September 2007.
  13. ↑ Senji Laxme, R. R.; Khochare, Suyog; Attarde, Saurabh; Kaur, Navneet; Jaikumar, Priyanka; Shaikh, Naeem Yusuf; Aharoni, Reuven; Primor, Naftali; Hawlena, Dror; Moran, Yehu; Sunagar, Kartik (2022). "The Middle Eastern Cousin: Comparative Venomics of Daboia palaestinae and Daboia russelii". Toxins. 14 (11): 725. doi: 10.3390/toxins14110725 . ISSN   2072-6651. PMC   9696752 .
  14. ↑ Bentur, Yedidia; Raikhlin-Eisenkraft, Bianca; Galperin, Maya (2004). "Evaluation of antivenom therapy in Vipera palaestinae bites". Toxicon. 44 (1): 53–57. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.04.006. ISSN   0041-0101.
  15. ↑ Pivko-Levy, Dikla; Munchnak, Itamar; Rimon, Ayelet; Balla, Uri; Scolnik, Dennis; Hoyte, Christopher; Voliovitch, Yair; Glatstein, Miguel (2017). "Evaluation of antivenom therapy for Vipera palaestinae bites in children: experience of two large, tertiary care pediatric hospitals". Clinical Toxicology. 55 (4): 235–240. doi:10.1080/15563650.2016.1277233. ISSN   1556-9519. PMID   28103732.
  16. 1 2 Momic, Tatjana; Arlinghaus, Franziska T.; Arien-Zakay, Hadar; Katzhendler, Jeoshua; Eble, Johannes A.; Marcinkiewicz, Cezary; Lazarovici, Philip (2011-11-14). "Pharmacological Aspects of Vipera xantina palestinae Venom". Toxins. 3 (11): 1420–1432. doi: 10.3390/toxins3111420 . ISSN   2072-6651. PMC   3237004 . PMID   22174978.
  17. ↑ מאיר, עופר (2004-05-09). "בן 51 שהוכש על ידי נחש צפע מת בביה"ח". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  18. ↑ אזולאי, יובל (2006-05-28). "בן 73 מת מנכישת נחש". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  19. ↑ אופיר, שרון רופא (2008-06-07). "תושב שבי ציון הוכש למוות ע"י נחש צפע". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  20. ↑ ראב"ד, אחיה (2013-06-21). "נחש הכיש למוות גבר בקמפינג בכנרת". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  21. ↑ ראב"ד, ד"ר איתי גל ואחיה (2015-07-01). "טרגדיה בצפון: צעירה מתה מהכשת נחש". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  22. ↑ שפיגל, נעה; רינת, צפריר (2018-05-13). "תושב הצפון מת לאחר שהוכש על ידי נחש צפע". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  23. ↑ שעלאן, אחיה ראב"ד וחסן (2018-10-22). "אישה הוכשה למוות בידי נחש ליד בנימינה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  24. 1 2 3 H. Mendelssohn (1963) ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE VENOMOUS SNAKES OF ISRAEL, Israel Journal of Zoology, 12:1-4, 143-170, DOI: 10.1080/00212210.1963.10688178
  25. ↑ Ineich, I.; Bonnet, X.; Shine, R.; Shine, T.; Brischoux, F.; Lebreton, M.; Chirio, L. (2006-12-04). "What, if anything, is a 'typical' viper? Biological attributes of basal viperid snakes (genus Causus Wagler, 1830): BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF BASAL VIPERID SNAKES". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 89 (4): 575–588. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2006.00690.x.
  26. 1 2 3 Shulov, Aharon (1966), Biology and Ecology of Venomous Animals in Israel, Memorias do Instituto Butantan 33(1):93-94
  27. ↑ McBride, Elysha; Winder, Isabelle C.; Wüster, Wolfgang (2023-10-07). "What Bit the Ancient Egyptians? Niche Modelling to Identify the Snakes Described in the Brooklyn Medical Papyrus". Environmental Archaeology: 1–14. doi:10.1080/14614103.2023.2266631. ISSN   1461-4103.
  28. ↑ Murison, Ross G. (1905). "The Serpent in the Old Testament". The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures. 21 (2): 119–120. ISSN   1062-0516.
  29. ↑ "צֶפַע". Academy of the Hebrew Language (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  30. ↑ "This Week in History: Saddam terrorizes Israel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  31. ↑ Boyne, Walter J. (January 2013). "Airpower Classics" (PDF). Air Force Magazine. Air Force Association: 84. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09.
  32. ↑ "Paratroopers Brigade". IDF Official Site. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  33. ↑ JTA (November 3, 2018). "Deadly Palestine Viper declared Israel's national snake". The Times of Israel . Retrieved November 4, 2018.

Further reading

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