Vipera albizona
Montivipera albizona
Montivipera albizona (syn. Vipera albizona ) is a medium-sized venomous snake of the family of vipers ( Viperidae ) of Eurasia.
- 5.1 Literature
Description
This viper is similar to the closely related Wagner 's viper (M. wagneri ) and the Asia Minor 's viper (M. xanthina ). It is up to 78 cm long, but remains generally smaller.
Squamation
Montivipera albizona has a large and clearly separated from the body head, a relatively broad and rounded snout and vertical slit pupils. The shields top of the head are completely divided into small, keeled scales, only the upper eye signs are large and flat and have a long line of contact with the big eyes. To the eyes are 9-13 scales ( Circumorbitalia ), in addition there are two rows of Under Eye signs and 7-10 upper lip Signs ( supralabials ). The nostrils are located in a single nasal shield on which adjoin 1-2 Apikalschilde. The lower lip edge is formed by 10 to 13 Sublabialia.
The head and body scales are keeled. On the back are usually 23 rows of scales around midbody. Belly side are 149-155 ventral scales ( Ventralia ), 2 Preventralia and after an undivided anal shield 23 to 30 paired under tail- shields ( Subcaudalia ) available.
Coloring
The basic color of the snake is gray. Over the entire back runs a striking drawing of about 30 partially resolved spots in white gray - black transverse bands, which are separated by large brownish areas. From the eye to the corner of the mouth pulls a dark temple strap, also own the animals usually two curved dark spots on the back of the head. The belly is light gray with black spots.
Dissemination
The type specimens of the snake were collected in the mountainous regions of central Turkey, where the snake occurs on rocky hillsides.
Way of life
Over the life of the snake are no concrete information. Like other vipers it feeds probably mainly of small mammals and lizards; in captivity they feed on mice. In addition, it is as likely as any rights vipers are 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 the following ways:
- M. albicornuta
- V. 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.