Vipera darevskii
Vipera darevskii (males)
Darevskis adder (Vipera darevskii ) is a type of the Real vipers (Vipera ) within the vipers ( Viperidae ). Its distribution is limited to the Dshavachetskij massif on the border of Armenia. The scientific name honors the Russian zoologist Ilya Sergevich Darevsky (* 1925).
Features
Darevskis viper is a very small species of the genus, reaching an average length of about 26 to 48 cm, the females are larger than males. The basic color is yellowish to gray- yellow with a back drawing from a wide and fairly uniform zigzag band. The body sides have dark spots, which may merge. Melanic individuals are not known. The abdomen is dark gray with black speckles. The top of the head is dark in the neck are two crescent-shaped strip of tape over his eyes and pulls a dark temple strap.
The head is narrow and somewhat separated from the rest of the body. Darevskis viper has the typical vipers vertical slit pupils. On top of the head, the frontal, the parietals and the supraorbital shields are made large, but they can also be shared. The remaining shields are dissolved into small scales. About The eye shield forms the back of the head a sharp edge, while the snout is rounded. The nostril is situated in the lower part of the nasals. Below the eye is a series of Under Eye shields ( Subocularia ), including 9 to 10 are upper lip shields ( supralabials ). The body scales are keeled. Around the middle of the body are usually 19 to 21 scale rows. The under tail- shields ( Subcaudalia ) are divided as in all species of the genus.
Distribution and habitat
The Western Caucasus Otter was known only from Dshavachetskij massif on the border of Armenia to Georgia. Only in 2005 was also discovered in the province of Artvin in northeastern Turkey populations. As habitat prefer the animals subalpine mountain meadows and rocky moraines at altitudes 2500-3000 meters.
Way of life
Over the life of Darevskis viper data are very rare, it is likely to resemble the Caucasus viper ( V. kaznakovi ). It is accordingly likely predominantly diurnal and lives rather hidden. The Hibernation takes in this type six to seven months. It feeds mainly on small mammals probably as mice and rats, and lizards and young birds, which it kills by a poisonous bite.
The snake is viviparous ( ovoviviparous ). As suspected mating season is assumed due to the high altitudes of April to May.
Snake venom
The poison of Darevskis viper Vipera is like that of all types of hemotoxic, medical treatment with an adequate antivenin is necessary.
Endangering
The individual populations of the species are small and scattered. Since the entire known distribution area is probably less than 100 square kilometers, with the actual habitat is limited and over-grazed to less than 10 square kilometers, the species is classified as critically endangered out of the IUCN Red List.