Protobothrops kaulbacki

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Protobothrops kaulbacki
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Protobothrops
Species:
P. kaulbacki
Binomial name
Protobothrops kaulbacki
(M.A. Smith, 1940)
Synonyms

Protobothrops kaulbacki, commonly known as Kaulback's lance-headed pit viper [3] or Kaulback's lance-headed pit viper, [1] [4] is a pit viper species endemic to Asia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. [3] [5]

Contents

Etymology

The specific name, kaulbacki, is in honor of British explorer Ronald Kaulback. [3] [6] [7] [8]

Description

Adult males of P. kaulbacki may attain a total length of 134 cm (53 in), which includes a tail 22.5 cm (8.9 in) long. Females may grow longer: maximum total length 141 cm (56 in), tail 23 cm (9.1 in). Dorsally, it is green, with a vertebral series of dark angular spots, which may be joined to form a zigzag stripe. The top of the head is black with yellow stripes. Ventrally, except for the whitish throat area, it is gray with large squarish or crescent-shaped yellow spots. [9] Scalation includes 25 rows of dorsal scales at midbody, 201–212 ventral scales, 66–78 subcaudal scales, and 8 supralabial scales of which the third is the largest. [4]

Geographic range

P. kaulbacki had originally been known only from the type locality, which is "Pangnamdim, north of the Triangle, Upper Burma" (Myanmar). [2] In 2005 it was reported also from Tibet (China). [1] [10] It also occurs in Arunachal Pradesh (NE India). [3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of P. kaulbacki are forest, shrubland, and grassland, at altitudes of 1,015–1,066 m (3,330–3,497 ft). [1]

Reproduction

P. kaulbacki is oviparous. The adult female lays a clutch of 6–32 eggs in a hole in the ground, and then remains with the eggs to guard them. Eggs measure 48–53 mm x 26–27 mm (about 2 in x 1 in). Each hatchling is 26–27 cm (about 10½ inches) in total length. [9]

Behavior

P. kaulbacki is terrestrial [1] and partly arboreal. [11]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Guo, P.; Li, P.; Rao, D.-q. (2012). "Protobothrops kaulbacki ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T178685A1541636. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T178685A1541636.en . Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Protobothrops kaulbacki at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S (2004). Asian Pit vipers. Berlin: Geitje Books. First Edition. 368 pp. ISBN   3-937975-00-4.
  5. "Protobothrops kaulbacki ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  6. Smith MA (1940).
  7. Guo, Peng (2007). "New evidence on the phylogenetic position of the poorly known Asian pitviper Protobothrops kaulbacki (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) with a redescription of the species and a revision of the genus Protobothrops ". Herpetological Journal17 (4): 237–246.
  8. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Protobothrops kaulbacki, p. 138).
  9. 1 2 Smith MA (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Protobothrops kaulbacki, p. 512).
  10. Rao D, Zhao E (2005). "A New Record from China – Protobothrops kaulbacki (Reptilia, Serpentes, Viperidae)". Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica30: 209-211.
  11. Harrington, Sean M.; de Haan, Jordyn M.; Shapiro, Lindsey; Ruane, Sara (2018). "Habits and characteristics of arboreal snakes worldwide: arboreality constrains body size but does not affect lineage diversification". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society125 (1): 61–71.

Further reading