Vipera raddei
Armenian mountain viper ( Montivipera raddei )
The Armenian 's viper ( Montivipera raddei; Syn Vipera raddei ) is a type of the Real otters (Vipera ) within the vipers ( Viperidae ). It is spread over other parts of Armenia, Azerbaijan, north-western Iran, and the eastern border area of Turkey. The scientific name honors the German - Russian zoologist Gustav Radde ( 1831-1903 ).
Features
The Armenian 's viper is a medium-sized species of the genus, reaching an average length of about 70 to 90 cm, the females are larger than males and record lengths can be achieved by 110 cm. The basic color is gray-brown, light gray, clay-colored or black -gray with a marking on the back of a wave or zigzag band. This consists of fused, yellow to yellow-orange or reddish back stains that can be edged black on the edges. The body pages often contain dark bars stains. Melanic individuals are not known. The abdomen is dark gray to black-gray. The top of the head is drawn dark near the back, in front are two separate point spots. About the eyes a dark temple strap pulls up to the mouth.
The head is narrow and somewhat separated from the rest of the comparatively slender body. The eyes have vertical pupils. With the exception of the triangular About Eye shields, the salient cover the eyes, the head 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 eyes are two rows of Under Eye shields ( Supraocularia ), including 9 to 10 are upper lip shields ( supralabials ). The body scales are keeled. Around the middle of the body are usually 23 to 24, rarely 21 to 25 scale rows. The under tail- shields ( Subcaudalia ) are divided as in all species of the genus.
Distribution and habitat
The Armenian 's viper is found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, north-western Iran, and the eastern border area of Turkey. As habitat it prefers sparse oak woods and rocks interspersed with mountain slopes at altitudes 1200-3000 meters.
Way of life
The Armenian 's viper is predominantly diurnal and lives rather than hidden ground snake. The Hibernation takes in this type depending on the amount of up 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 young snakes feed on small lizards.
The snake is viviparous ( ovivivipar ). As suspected mating season is assumed due to the high altitudes of April to May.
System
Within the Armenian mountain Otter two subspecies are distinguished:
- M. r. raddei in Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Turkish-Russian border area
- M. r. kurdistanica in northwestern Iran and the Iranian- Turkish border area
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 mountain viper ( V. 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 poison of the Armenian 's viper Vipera is like that of all types of hemotoxic, medical treatment with an adequate antivenin is necessary.