Vipera albicornuta
Montivipera albicornuta (syn. Vipera albicornuta ) is a medium-sized venomous snake of the family of vipers ( Viperidae ) of Eurasia.
- 5.1 amount of poison
- 5.2 Composition and Effect
- 6.1 Literature
Description
Montivipera albicornuta is a maximum of 66 cm long. She has a small, but clearly distinct from the body and head vertically slotted pupils.
Squamation
The shields top of the head are divided into 39-40 small keeled scales. The upper eye shields are large, raised and separated from the eyes by a series of very small scales. The Under Eye Shields are dissolved in 24 to 28 single shed, surround the eyes of an inner ring of 13 to 15 and a non- closed second ring 15 to 17 scales. Of the nine upper lip protection ( supralabials ), the eyes are separated by one or two rows of sub eyes and signs of the Supranasalen by two Canthalen.
The nostrils are located in a single nasal shield ( Nasal ), which is partially fused with the Pränasalen and adjacent to two Rostralschilden. The lower lip edge is formed by eleven to twelve Sublabialia. In addition, below the head, there are two large front and four rear chin shields and two to three Präventralen.
The head and body scales are keeled. On the back are usually 23 rows of scales around midbody. Belly side are 165-171 ventral scales ( Ventralia ) and after an undivided anal shield 35 to 38 paired under tail- shields ( Subcaudalia ) available.
Coloring
The basic color of the snake is gray with a brownish zigzag band from 44 to 52 turns and with a black border. On either side of the back also runs a series of dark spots along.
From the eye to the corner of the mouth pulls a dark temple strap. Another dark band extends from the lower edge of eyes to mouth. At the back of the head, the snake has teardrop-shaped dark spots. The throat is pale with dark mottling. The abdomen is dark with bright shades.
Distribution and habitat
The distribution of snake is restricted to the highlands of Zanjan and the surrounding mountain regions of the Alborz, Talysh and Zandschargebirges in northwestern Iran. The type locality is the place Abhar in Zanjan valley between Tabriz and Tehran.
Like all other types of Montivipera complex lives this snake in the dry sparsely vegetated upland stony and sandy ground. The vegetation consists mainly of grasses and bushes.
Way of life
Over the life of the snake are few concrete information. After Mallow et al. 2003 are great similarities with the Armenian mountain viper ( Montivipera raddei ) to accept. Like other vipers it feeds mainly on small mammals and lizards as Darevskia raddei; the juveniles also of insects (especially grasshoppers ).
She is also viviparous.
System
The taxonomic classification of the species is currently under discussion, therefore, can be found in the literature, two alternative generic. Traditionally, 's viper of the genus Vipera was assigned and trained within this one Artkomplex with a number of other species, which is known as Vipera xanthina complex. All species within this complex share anatomical features with the mountain otters and live on the small Asian scattered at higher altitudes relatively isolated mountain landscapes.
Including the mountain Otter belong to the genus Montivipera today following ways:
- Montivipera albicornuta
- M. albizona
- Lebanese mountain viper ( M. bornmuelleri )
- Taurian 's viper (M. bulgardaghica )
- Alborz mountain viper ( M. latifii )
- Armenian 's viper (M. raddei )
- Wagner 's viper (M. wagneri )
- Small Asian Mountain Otter (M. xanthina )
Some of these species were a few years ago as a subspecies of Asia Minor 's viper, while the species status, for example, by V. V. bulgardaghica or albicornuta to date is controversial.
1999, a removal from the genus Vipera was proposed under the new generic name Montivipera for this complex, which was able to prevail, however, only limited in the literature. So Joger and Nilson 2005 lead the Mountain Otter under the species name and the database Montivipera xanthina The Reptile Database has the genus Montivipera set up as a separate genus and separated from Vipera. Mallow et al. 2003, however, these and other species continues to lead among the established names within the genus Vipera and assign them to the subgenus Montivipera.
By steering et al. 2001, the monophyly of the Montivipera species was confirmed as a separate taxon by immunological studies. These represent according to the results, however, the sister group of two major viper species ( Macrovipera ) within a complex of Daboia, Macrovipera and Montivipera species is, making the genus Vipera, with involvement of the subgenus Montivipera no more than natural kinship group with all descendants of ancestral species ( monophyletic group) is to be regarded as durable and paraphyletic.
Other genera
True vipers (Vipera )
Montivipera
Macrovipera
Daboia
This view is confirmed by Garrigues et al. 2004, in which the vipers form a European section of different Vipera species and an oriental section of the named genera Daboia and Macrovipera and the Montivipera types .. Today, all kinds of xanthina - Kolmplexes the genus Montivipera be added accordingly.
Snake venom
The knowledge of the poison of Montivipera albicornuta are relatively limited. In previous studies in Iran all mountain vipers such as the Armenian mountain viper, the Alborz mountain Otter and Montivipera albicorna as Asia Minor 's viper ( V. xanthina ) were usually viewed. About the epidemiology of this type are accordingly no adjusted data.
Amount of poison
Based on data from the Razi Serum Institute in Tehran, information is available on the amount of poison of the serpent. Accordingly, the average amount of poison is 7 to 18 mg dry weight per snake. This amount is largely independent of the season, however, she takes in the autumn compared with the spring and summer off easily. In females, the amount of poison in the average is 5 mg / tooth, with the males 7-8 mg / tooth.
Composition and mode of
Like most viper venoms is the venom of Montivipera albicornuta especially hemotoxic so it destroys the cells of the blood and the tissues surrounding them by various proteases. Hämotoxine lead to tissue damage, internal bleeding and swelling and necrosis and are very painful. Among the most effective components of the venom are proteins that suppress blood clotting and cause together with the tissue-destructive proportions internal bleeding. Added to neurotoxins that can have a paralyzing effect on the nervous system; such effects are very rare due to the small amounts neurotoxin in humans.
The effect of the poison is largely that of other European vipers. The Bite leads to swelling with necrosis and increased bleeding at the bite site. In addition, it usually comes to a hypotension of the individual and another shock symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and often diarrhea. In rare cases, loss of consciousness or loss of consciousness, deadly bite injuries are unknown at this snake.
For treatment there are a number of polyvalent Antiveninen, the non-specific effect in Europe and the Middle East with most Vipera species. However, these are not applied until stronger symptoms on the instructions of a physician.