Gloydius himalayanus

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Gloydius himalayanus
Gloydius himalayanus 189212012.jpg
Gloydius himalayanus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Gloydius
Species:
G. himalayanus
Binomial name
Gloydius himalayanus
(Günther, 1864) [1]
Synonyms
  • Trigonocephalus affinis
    Günther, 1860 (part)
  • Halys himalayanusGünther, 1864
  • Halys Himalayanus
    Stoliczka, 1870
  • Halys Hymalayanus
    Stoliczka, 1870(ex errore)
  • Trigonocephalus himalayanus Strauch, 1873
  • Crotalus Halys Himalayanus Higgins, 1873
  • Ancistrodon himalayanus
    Boulenger, 1890
  • Agkistrodon himalayanus
    Hatta, 1928
  • A[gkistrodon]. himalayana
    Underwood, 1979
  • Gloydius himalayanus
    Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1981 [2]

Gloydius himalayanus also known as the Himalayan pit viper or [3] the Himalayan viper [4] is a pit viper species found along the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Pakistan, India and Nepal. No subspecies are currently recognized. [1] Himalayan pit vipers have been found up to 4900m above sea level, which makes it the highest living snake ever found. [5]

Contents

Description

Its body color is light brown or dark brown. On the upper side of the body there are long infarct marks which seem to be intertwined due to their close proximity. Slightly larger, side row of spots of the same color. Dark spots on the head, abdomen is light gray in color. There are small dark spots on the abdomen.

The head is distinctly wide and elongated, with symmetrically arranged large scales. The dorsal scales are strongly keeled. An elongated postocular extends anteriorly to separate the eye from the supralabials. The dorsum is brownish, mottled or variegated to form a pattern of transverse bars. Ventral scales are white with black and red dots or speckles. Average length of these snakes is between 0.76 and 0.90 metres (2.5 and 3.0 ft). [6] Dorsal scale count is "(20 to 23) - 21 (19 to 23) - 17 (15)", [7] which means behind head, 20-23 rows; at midbody, usually 21 rows, but sometimes 19 or 23; just before vent, usually 17 rows, but sometimes 15.

Distribution

Occurs along the southern slopes of the Himalayas from northeastern Pakistan, to northern India (Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Ladakh and Uttarakhand) and Nepal. Reports that this species occurs in Sikkim, India, need to be confirmed. [2] It is the only pit viper found in Pakistan .

Habitat

This is a highland snake and is found in altitudes ranging from 2,100 to 4,900 m (6,900 to 16,100 ft) in the mid and western Himalayas. It takes refuge under fallen timber, crevices, in or under rocks, beneath boulders, ledges, stones and fallen leaves. [6]

Behavior and diet

This is a nocturnal and terrestrial species, often seen close to its hiding place, to which it retreats when disturbed. It is a lazy timid snake, moving slowly from one place to another. Its food consists mostly of millipedes, centipedes, and small rodents. [6] [7]

Venom

Bites from this species result in intense local pain and swelling, which usually subsides within two to three days, even without treatment. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Agkistrodon</i> Genus of snakes

Agkistrodon is a genus of pit vipers commonly known as American moccasins. The genus is endemic to North America, ranging from the Southern United States to northern Costa Rica. Eight species are currently recognized, all of them monotypic and closely related. Common names include: cottonmouths, copperheads, and cantils.

<i>Gloydius</i> Genus of snakes

Gloydius is a genus of pit vipers endemic to Asia, also known as Asian moccasins or Asian ground pit vipers. Named after American herpetologist Howard K. Gloyd, this genus is very similar to the North American genus Agkistrodon. 24 species are currently recognized.

<i>Hypnale</i> Genus of snakes

Hypnale is a genus of pit vipers endemic to Sri Lanka and southwestern India. Three monotypic species are currently recognized. All members have more or less upturned snouts that produce a hump-nosed effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western cottonmouth</span> Subspecies of snake

The western cottonmouth was once classified as a subspecies of the cottonmouth. However, DNA based studies published in 2008 and 2015, revealed no significant genetic difference between the eastern cottonmouth and the western cottonmouth and synonymized the two subspecies. The resulting taxonomy does not recognizes the western cottonmouth as a valid taxon. Several subsequent reviews and species accounts have followed and supported the revised taxonomy. Information on this snake can be found in the Agkistrodon piscivorus article.

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

Gloydius blomhoffii, commonly known as the mamushi, Japanese moccasin, Japanese pit viper, Qichun snake, Salmusa or Japanese mamushi, is a pit viper species found in Japan. It was once considered to have 4 subspecies, but it is now considered monotypic.

<i>Agkistrodon bilineatus</i> Species of snake

Agkistrodon bilineatus is a highly venomous pit viper species found in Mexico and Central America as far south as Honduras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida cottonmouth</span> Species of snake

The Florida cottonmouth is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the United States, where it occurs in southern Georgia and the Florida peninsula in nearly every type of wetlands in the region, including brackish water and offshore islands. However, it is not entirely dependent on water and is occasionally encountered as far as a mile from surface water. Agkistrodon conanti venom is very hemolytic and known to cause relatively extensive necrosis compared to many snake venoms, and can sometimes be lethal with a 17% mortality rate. It is often confused with harmless watersnakes (Nerodia) and other semi-aquatic species with which it shares its habitat.

<i>Gloydius saxatilis</i> Species of snake

Gloydius saxatilis is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Russia, China and the Korean Peninsula. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Gloydius halys</i> Species of snake

Gloydius halys is a pit viper species found within a wide range that stretches across Asia, from Russia, east of the Urals, eastwards through China. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominotypical form described here.

<i>Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen</i> Subspecies of snake

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen was formerly a venomous pit viper subspecies found in the eastern United States. However, recent taxonomic changes do not recognize the northern copperhead as a valid taxon.

Agkistrodon howardgloydi is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Central America. It is most commonly called castellana, but it has also been called the southern cantil, Gloyd's moccasin, and a number of other colloquial names. It is a rare species with a relatively small geographic distribution in the tropical dry forest on the Pacific coast of Honduras, Nicaragua, and extreme northwest Costa Rica. A. howardgloydi is a stout, medium-sized snake with a maximum total length of 96 cm (38 in). It is a viviparous species, with females giving birth in the rainy season from May to August. No clinical reports on envenomation had been published, but laboratory texts and analysis indicate the venom is highly toxic and similar to its close relative Agkistrodon bilineatus, and potentially lethal.

Agkistrodon russeolus, commonly called the Yucatecan cantil, is a venomous pit viper species endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico and northern Belize.

<i>Hypnale nepa</i> Species of snake

Hypnale nepa, the Sri Lankan hump-nosed viper, is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Sri Lanka where it is known as මූකලන් තෙලිස්සා in Sinhala. Earlier thought that Hypnale walli and Hypnale nepa were two distinct species, but it is now accepted that it is the same species and Hypnale walli is a synonym name. Relatively small, they are distinguished by a strongly upturned snout. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Hypnale walli, or Wall's hump-nosed viper, is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Sri Lanka. The smallest member of its genus, it is distinguished by having a strongly upturned nose and lower scale counts. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Gloydius intermedius</i> Species of snake

Gloydius intermedius, or Central Asian pit viper, is a venomous species of pitviper endemic to northern Asia. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Gloydius monticola is a venomous pitviper species endemic to southern China. A small and darkly colored snake with no visible color pattern, it is found high in the mountains of northern Yunnan province. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Gloydius shedaoensis is a venomous pitviper species found only on Shedao Island in China. Although very small, this island is home to an extraordinarily large population of these snakes. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Gloydius strauchi is a species of venomous pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to western China. It is a small snake with a pattern of four longitudinal stripes, although some older specimens may be a uniform black. G. strauchi may be distinguished from G. monticola by its higher midbody dorsal scale count. This species jointly holds the altitude record for pitvipers together with Crotalus triseriatus of Mexico, both being found even above the tree line at over 4,000 m (13,000 ft). No subspecies were recognized as being valid, until a recent publication re-evaluated the taxonomic statuses of populations of G. strauchi and described the eastern Tibetan populations as a new species.

<i>Gloydius ussuriensis</i> Species of snake

Gloydius ussuriensis is a venomous pitviper species endemic to far east Russia, northeastern China and the Korean Peninsula. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Gloydius brevicauda</i> Species of snake

Gloydius brevicauda is a pit viper species endemic to China and the Korean Peninsula.

References

  1. 1 2 "Gloydius himalayanus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. Gloyd HK, Conant R. 1990. Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex: A Monographic Review. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 614 pp. 52 plates. LCCN 89-50342. ISBN   0-916984-20-6.
  4. Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles -- Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN   0-7137-1704-1.
  5. encyclopedia of LIFE. Miles Kelly. 2017. p. 227. ISBN   978-1-78617-327-0.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Gopalakrishnakone, Chou, P, LM (1990). Snakes of Medical Importance (Asia-Pacific Region). Singapore: Venom and Toxin Research Group National University of Singapore and International Society on Toxinology (Asia-Pacific section). p. 436. ISBN   9971-62-217-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. 1 2 "Gloydius himalayanus". Clinical Toxinology Resource. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 11 April 2012.

Further reading