Protobothrops cornutus

Last updated

Protobothrops cornutus
Protobothrops cornutus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Protobothrops
Species:
P. cornutus
Binomial name
Protobothrops cornutus
(M. A. Smith, 1930)
Synonyms [2]
  • Trimeresurus cornutus
    M. A. Smith, 1930
  • Ceratrimeresurus shenlii
    Liang & Liu, 2003
  • Protobothrops cornutus
    – Herrmann et al., 2004

Protobothrops cornutus, commonly known as the horned pit viper [1] or Fan-Si-Pan horned pit viper, [3] is a pit viper species found in northern and central Vietnam and in southern China (Guangdong). [1] [2] No subspecies are currently recognized. [2]

Contents

Description

Its maximum length is usually around 60-90cm. It has a long body, with a flat oblong trangular head differentiated from the body, with small scales. Its nostril scale is also triangular. [4] It was found to exhibit the largest attack acceleration among snakes, about 18g. [5]

Geographic range

The type locality given is "Fan-si-pan mountains, Tonkin, Indo-China" [2] [6] (=Mount Fansipan). [3] It is currently known from several provinces in Vietnam (Lao Cai Province, Ha Giang Province, Quang Binh Province, Hue City, Lang Son Province). [1] The only Chinese record is from Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County in northern Guangdong and was originally described as a new species, Ceratrimeresurus shenlii. [1] [2]

Habitat

It occurs in evergreen forest on both karst and granitic outcrops at elevations of 250–2,000 m (820–6,560 ft) above sea level. [1]

Close-up of head, showing "horns" to which the specific name, cornutus, refers. Protobothrops cornutus head (2).jpg
Close-up of head, showing "horns" to which the specific name, cornutus, refers.

Taxonomy

Herrmann et al. (2004) moved this species to the genus Protobothrops based on external and hemipenal morphology, as well as molecular data. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Stuart, B.; Grismer, L.; Nguyen, T.Q. (2012). "Protobothrops cornutus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012 e.T22151A2781729. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T22151A2781729.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Protobothrops cornutus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 17 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. GeitjeBooks. Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. ISBN   3-937975-00-4.
  4. ↑ "Protobothrops cornutus (Smith, 1930)".
  5. ↑ https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/228/20/jeb250347/369412/Kinematics-of-strikes-in-venomous-snakes
  6. ↑ 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).

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.