Gloydius huangi | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Viperidae |
Genus: | Gloydius |
Species: | G. huangi |
Binomial name | |
Gloydius huangi Wang et al., 2019 | |
Gloydius huangi, the Lancang Plateau viper, is a species of Asian moccasin from Tibet. Taxonomically it is named after Dr. Song Huang, a herpetologist from Huangshan University, and the suggested common name is after the name of the river basin it is found in, in hopes of promoting its conservation. As with all pit vipers, it is venomous. [1] It is most closely related to G. monticola. [2] [3]
The Lancang Plateau viper is a medium sized snake (up to 53.2 cm) with an oval/spoon-shaped head and a blunt snout. Its scales are matte rather than glossy or metalic and it is beige to peachy in base colouration with many grey or black patches – one is a distinct c-shape patch on the head. [3] It also displays a unique hemipenis morphology with long spines. [1] [2]
Compared to the species it was previously describes as, Gloydius strauchi , the Lancang Plateau viper can be distinguished by its larger size and its distinct pattern. [2]
The species prefers hot, dry areas at an elevation of around 3,000 to 3,300 m. They will often shelter in rock crevices when in the presence of a human. According to locals, this species is common. [2]
It is theorised that the Lancang Plateau viper is a predator of Diploderma vela , as they are codistributed. [2]
The Crotalinae, commonly known as pit vipers, or pit adders, are a subfamily of vipers found in Asia and the Americas. Like all other vipers, they are venomous. They are distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on both sides of the head. Currently, 23 genera and 155 species are recognized: These are also the only viperids found in the Americas. The groups of snakes represented here include rattlesnakes, lanceheads, and Asian pit vipers. The type genus for this subfamily is Crotalus, of which the type species is the timber rattlesnake, C. horridus.
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.
Gloydius himalayanus also known as the Himalayan pit viper or the Himalayan viper is a pit viper species found along the southern slopes of the Himalayas in Pakistan, India and Nepal. No subspecies are currently recognized. Himalayan pit vipers have been found up to 4900m above sea level, which makes it the highest living snake ever found.
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.
Gloydius saxatilis is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Russia, China and the Korean Peninsula. No subspecies are currently recognized.
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. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominotypical form described here.
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.
Gloydius brevicauda is a pit viper species endemic to China and the Korean Peninsula.
Diploderma vela, also known as sail mountain lizard, the mountain dragon or sail japalura, is a species of lizard endemic to China. It is named after its distinct sail, with 'Vela' in Latin meaning sail. It can be found in Tibet and Yunnan at elevations of 2370 meters.
Trimeresurus salazar, also known as Salazar's pit viper, is a species of venomous, green pit viper first discovered in 2019 in the lowlands of the western part of Arunachal Pradesh, India; the fifth new reptile species to be discovered in the region in 2019. It was named after Salazar Slytherin from the Harry Potter series. It has a dark green head and yellowish green dorsal scales on the rest of its body. The species is sexually dichromatic; the males have reddish-orange and yellow-orange stripes and a rusty red-orange tail that the females lack. Its habitat is under threat from human development activities.
Gloydius lateralis is a species of venomous pit viper found in the Zharu Valley of Jiuzhaigou County, China. The species is active during sunny days in hot and dry areas along roadsides. The Zharu Valley is the sole known location of G. lateralis. This snake is assumed to eat small mammals like mice, based on the fur remnants found within its droppings. This species lineage is a sister taxon to G. swild, being morphologically and phylogenetically similar.
Gloydius angusticeps, the Zoige pit viper, is a species of venomous snake in the genus Gloydius found in China, specifically in the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, and Gansu.
Gloydius changdaoensis is a species of Asian moccasin from Shandong Province, China. The name changdaoensis comes from the area it was first discovered in, Changdao County. As with all pit vipers, it is venomous. It has been named as one of the 30 most endangered viper species in 2016.
Gloydius cognatus, or the Alashan pitviper, is a species of Asian moccasin from North West China and Mongolia. As with all pit vipers it is venomous, and it is considered the most toxic species of Gloydius in China.
Gloydius halys boehmei, or the Böhme's pitviper, is a subspecies of Halys pitviper from Eastern Afghanistan. As with all pit vipers, it is venomous.
Gloydius halysubsunurensis, also known as the Ubsunur pit viper or the Ubsunur Mamushi, is a subspecies of Halys pitviper from Mongolia and Russia. As with all pit vipers, it is venomous.