Vipera bulgardaghica
Taurian 's viper ( Montivipera bulgardaghica )
The Taurian 's viper ( Montivipera bulgardaghica; Syn Vipera bulgardaghica ) is a type of the Real otters (Vipera ) within the vipers ( Viperidae ). Its distribution is limited to the area at the Bulgar Dagh in the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey.
Features
The Tauride mountain Otter reached an average length of about 50 to 60 cm. The ground color is brownish-gray with a marking on the back of mixed stationary dark, rectangular spots, which can partially merge to form a band. On the sides of the body, the animals also have small and round dark spots. The belly is mottled gray and light. From the temple a temple strap pulls through the eyes to the corners of the mouth.
The head is clearly separated from the rest of the body. The eyes have vertical pupils. The top of the head is 35-43 small individual scales covered, with 6 scales side by side at the narrowest point between the supraorbital plates ( Supraocularia ) lie. Below the eye is a series of Under Eye shields ( Subocularia ), including 9 are upper lip shields ( supralabials ). The top Voraugenschild touches the nasals. The body scales are keeled. Around the middle of the body are usually 23, rarely 25, rows of scales. The under tail- shields ( Subcaudalia ) are divided as in all species of the genus.
Distribution and habitat
The Taurian 's viper is only found in the higher mountain areas in the Bulgar Dagh in the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey. As a habitat, the animals prefer rocky mountain meadows with herbaceous vegetation at elevations from 2100 to 2700 m.
Way of life
Over the life of the Tauride mountain Otter, very little is known, one takes a similar behavior as in the Lebanese mountain viper ( M. bornmuelleri ) and the Asia Minor 's viper (M. xanthina ) to. It is relatively slow, but it can bite very quickly when threatened. As a warning sound it emits a distinct hiss. It feeds mainly on small mammals such as mice and rats and is viviparous ( ovivivipar ).
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 the following ways:
- M. 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.
Endangering
The Tauride mountain Otter is classified as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List. She is also listed as a protected species in Appendix III of the Bern Convention.
Snake venom
The poison of the Tauride mountain Otter is hemotoxic, medical treatment with an adequate antivenin is necessary.