Vipera
Adder (Vipera berus )
The Real vipers (Vipera ) constitute a genus in the subfamily True Vipers ( Viperinae ) the family of vipers ( Viperidae ). They are found with currently 23 species, mainly in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, where the taxonomy is currently being discussed very much. Vipera All species are ground snakes, only some climb low bushes. The northernmost species is the common viper (Vipera berus ), their distribution ranges in Scandinavia beyond the Arctic Circle. All species of this taxon are poisonous.
Features
The Real otters include snake species with body lengths of about 35 inches as the Atlas dwarf viper (Vipera monticola ) to about 1.5 meters as in the Asia Minor 's viper (Vipera xanthina ). The body is usually stocky and has a distinctly remote from the body, triangular head. The top of the head is filled with all kinds of small scales. The colorations normally correspond to the substrate on which the animals live, and range from gray to reddish brown and various shades of brown to black; green and " colorful " colored species there is not it. The drawing is often composed of dorsal spot patterns that can move in a zigzag strip; however, some species or subspecies are also completely black or colored brown or red-brown. A head pattern can also be present, typical patterns are here blindfolds or V-shaped spots on the back of the head.
True vipers are like all vipers poisonous snakes. They have a corresponding venom apparatus with large poison glands behind the eyes, which are connected by a poison channel with the most large fangs in the front upper jaw.
Way of life
All types of Real otters are adapted to life on the ground. They are found in all forms of the subsoil and usually color matched to it. Most species live in forests, grasslands, heath and steppe areas.
In particular, the European species of the temperate to warm temperate zone are almost exclusively during the day to meet, while types are more common in warmer areas at dusk or at night active. Due to the climatic conditions, it is also employed for mid-to northern European species when to rest during the winter, whereas such does not occur in species from Africa and southern Asia. The phases of activity, with many European species, however, may vary between different populations depending on the habitat type.
Most vipers feed on small mammals, which it actively adjust and they kill with one bite. All types of Real vipers are viviparous.
Distribution and habitat
The representatives of Real otters are in Europe, parts of North Africa and spread to the Middle East. The northernmost species is the common viper (Vipera berus ), their distribution ranges in Scandinavia beyond the Arctic Circle. Among them, there are some species with a very large distribution area, most notably the viper. Other species are only focused on limited areas such as mountain ranges, such as the Taurian 's viper (Vipera bulgardaghica ) or the Atlas dwarf viper. From Baran's viper (Vipera barani ) even only a single copy of the Turkish Black Sea coast is known.
System
In the near past, several revisions have been made, from which emerged new genres such as the United vipers ( Macrovipera ), the mountain otters ( Montivipera ) and the Oriental otters ( Daboia ) within this genus, a number of other revisions have been proposed.
Other genera
True vipers (Vipera )
Montivipera
Macrovipera
Daboia
For species currently classified into the genus Vipera it concerns:
- European viper ( V. ammodytes )
- Asp viper ( V. aspis )
- Baran's viper ( V. barani )
- Adder ( V. berus )
- Darevskis viper ( V. darevskii )
- Western Caucasus viper ( V. dinniki )
- Caucasus viper ( V. kaznakovi )
- Lataste (v. latastei )
- Alborz mountain viper ( V. latifii )
- Lotievs Viper (v. lotievi )
- Atlas dwarf viper ( V. monticola )
- Forest-steppe viper ( V. Nikolski )
- Pontic Viper (v. pontica )
- Steppe viper ( Vipera renardi )
- Nordiberische viper ( V. seoanei )
- Meadow viper ( V. ursinii )
Snake venom
Most Viper poisons are especially hemotoxic and thus destroy primarily cells of the blood and the tissues surrounding it by various proteases. Hämotoxine lead to extensive tissue damage, internal bleeding and swelling and necrosis and are very painful. Among the most effective ingredients of the poison also include proteins that suppress blood clotting and cause together with the tissue-destructive proportions internal bleeding. Bleeding occur in this case under the skin, nasal and oral cavity, and especially in the gut and brain of the prey. Besides these there are in some species also neurotoxic components that act on the nervous system of the victim and cause paralysis.