Vipera transcaucasiana

Last updated

Vipera transcaucasiana
Viperidae - Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Vipera
Species:
V. transcaucasiana
Binomial name
Vipera transcaucasiana
Boulenger, 1913
Synonyms [2]
  • Vipera ammodytes var. transcaucasianaBoulenger, 1913
  • Vipera ammodytes transversovirgata Zarevskij, 1915
  • V[ipera]. a[mmodytes]. transcaucasiana— Bruno, 1985
  • [Vipera ammodytes] transcaucasiana
    — Golay et al., 1993
  • [Vipera ammodytes] transcaucasiana
    — Herprint Internatl., 1994
Common names: Transcaucasian sand viper, Armenian sand viper. [3]

Vipera transcaucasiana is a venomous viper species [4] (regarded by some as a subspecies [5] ) endemic to parts of Georgia and northern Turkish Anatolia. [3]

Contents

Description

It grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of 75 cm (30 in), but is usually not so large. [3]

On the head, the rostral scale is wider than it is long, supporting a rostral appendage or "horn" covered with 9–17 scales arranged in 3 (rarely 2 or 4) transverse rows. On the dorsum, there are two large supraoculars of which the posterior extends beyond the posterior margin of the eye. The rest of the head is covered with small, irregular scales that are either smooth or weakly keeled. There are 7 interocular scale rows. The frontal and parietal plates are usually absent. The nostril is located within a single, large, concave nasal scale that is rarely divided. The nasal is separated from the rostral by a single nasorostral scale. The temporal scales are either smooth or weakly keeled. There are 11–12 circumorbital scales, while two rows separate the eye from the supralabials. There are 9–10 supralabials, of which the 4th and 5th are the largest. [3]

Midbody there are 21 rows of strongly keeled dorsal scales, while those bordering the ventrals are either smooth or only weakly keeled. There are 148–160 ventrals, and 32–40 paired subcaudal scales. The anal plate is single. [3]

The color pattern consists of a light gray, ash gray, silver gray, pale gray, or grayish white ground color, overlaid with a dorsal pattern of narrow transverse bands. The top of the head and the nasal "horn" do not have any irregular dark markings, except for a weak V-marking on the back of the head. The iris is golden or coppery. Juveniles have a similar color pattern. [3]

Geographic range

It is confined to sections of Georgia and northern Turkish Anatolia, according to Nilson et al. (1988). Contrary to some publications, this subspecies does not occur in Armenia, Azerbaijan or Iran. [3]

Taxonomy

Some elevate V. a. transcaucasiana to species level based on genetic distances that are larger than other full species, such as between V. aspis and V. latastei (Herrmann et al. 1987, 1992). [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Macrovipera lebetinus</i> Species of snake

Macrovipera lebetinus, known as the blunt-nosed viper, Lebetine viper, Levant viper, and by other common names, is a viper species found in North Africa, much of the Middle East, and as far east as Kashmir. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate race described here.

<i>Eryx conicus</i> Species of reptile

Eryx conicus, also known as Russell's sand boa, the Common sand boa or the rough-tailed sand boa, is a species of non-venomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is native to Southern Asia. No subspecies are recognised.

<i>Atheris squamigera</i> Species of snake

Atheris squamigera is a venomous viper species endemic to west and central Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Eristicophis</i> Genus of reptile

Eristicophis is a monotypic genus created for the viper species, Eristicophis macmahonii, which is endemic to the desert region of Balochistan near the borders of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Common names for the species include McMahon's viper, Asian sand viper, leaf-nosed viper, and whiskered viper. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies 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 ammodytes</i> Species of snake

Vipera ammodytes, commonly known as horned viper, long-nosed viper, nose-horned viper, and sand viper, is a species of viper found in southern Europe, mainly northern Italy, the Balkans, and parts of Asia Minor. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. It is reputed to be the most dangerous of the European vipers due to its large size, long fangs and high venom toxicity. The specific name, ammodytes, is derived from the Greek words ammos, meaning "sand", and dutes, meaning "burrower" or "diver", despite its preference for rocky habitats. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<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>Montivipera albizona</i> Species of snake

Montivipera albizona, the central Turkish mountain viper, is a viper species endemic to the mountainous regions of central Turkey. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Atheris desaixi</i> Species of snake

Atheris desaixi, commonly known as the Mount Kenya bush viper, Ashe's bush viper, or Desaix's bush viper, is a venomous species of viper endemic to Kenya, where only two isolated populations are known. It is known for its striking black and yellow coloration. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bitis peringueyi</i> Species of snake

Bitis peringueyi, also known as the Peringuey's adder, Peringuey's desert adder or desert sidewinding adder, is a venomous viper species found in Namibia and southern Angola. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Macrovipera lebetinus transmediterranea is a viper subspecies endemic to North Africa. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

<i>Montivipera raddei albicornuta</i> Subspecies of snake

Montivipera raddei albicornuta is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to Iran. It is a subspecies of Montivipera raddei.

Vipera ammodytes meridionalis is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to Greece and Turkish Thrace.

Vipera ammodytes montandoni is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to Bulgaria and southern Romania.

Causus maculatus is viper species found mainly in West- and Central Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. Common names include forest rhombic night adder, West African night adder and spotted night adder. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

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

Wagner's viper, known as the ocellate mountain viper, ocellated mountain viper, and Wagner's viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to eastern Turkey and northwestern Iran. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<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.

<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.

Bothrops medusa is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Venezuela. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Bothrocophias andianus is a venomous pit viper species endemic to the Andes in South America. No subspecies are currently recognized.

References

  1. ↑ "Vipera transcaucasiana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009. 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  2. ↑ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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. ↑ Bisby F.A.; Roskov Y.R.; Orrell T.M.; Nicolson D.; Paglinawan L.E.; Bailly N.; Kirk P.M.; Bourgoin T.; Baillargeon G.; Ouvrard D. (red.) (2011). "Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist". Species 2000: Reading, UK. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 11 August 2006.

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.