Vipera raddei

Vipera raddei
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Vipera
Species: V. raddei
Binomial name
Vipera raddei
Boettger, 1890
Synonyms
  • Vipera xanthina
    Strauch, 1869 (non Gray, 1849)
    (nomen nudum)
  • Vipera xanthina — Strauch, 1873 (nomen nudum)
  • Vipera Raddei Boettger, 1890
  • Vipera raddii [sic] Boulenger, 1896
  • Coluber raddei — Nikolsky, 1916
  • Vipera lebetina raddei
    — Schwarz, 1936
  • Vipera xanthina raddei
    — Mertens, 1952
  • Daboia (Daboia) raddei raddei
    — Obst, 1983
  • Daboia raddei
    — Engelmann et al., 1985
  • Vipera raddei — Nilson & Andrén, 1986
  • Vipera raddei kurdistanica
    Nilson & Andrén, 1986
  • Vipera raddei — Latifi, 1991[2]

Vipera raddei (Armenian vipera) is a venomous viper species found in Armenia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, and possibly also Iraq. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Etymology

The specific name, raddei, is in honor of German naturalist Gustav Radde.[4]

Common names

Rock viper, Radde's mountain viper, Armenian mountain viper,[5] Armenian viper,[6] Radde's viper,[7] Armenian mountain adder.[8]

Description

Adult males grow to a maximum total length (body + tail) of 99 cm (39 in). Adult females are smaller with a maximum total length of 79 cm (31 in).[5]

Geographic range

Eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and probably Iraq. This species is parapatric or slightly sympatric with V. wagneri in the Aras river valley, Kars Province, eastern Turkey.

The type locality is listed as "Kasikoparan in Armenien". According to Nilson and Andrén (1986), Kasikoparan, Armenia (40°02'N, 43°26'E) is now part of Turkey (Kazikkiran [Kazikkoparan]), Tuzluca, Kars Province, northeastern Anatolia).[2]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Lower Risk with a subcategory of least concern (LR/lc) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1994).[9] This indicates that it has been evaluated, but that it does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Also, it does not qualify for Conservation Dependent or Near Threatened either. Year assessed: 1996.[10]

It is, however, listed as a protected species (Appendix III) under the Berne Convention.[11]

Taxonomy

This species is apparently closely related to V. albicornuta and V. latifii; together they form the Vipera raddei group or complex.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nilson, Göran; Claus Andrén; Aziz Avci; Ferdi Akarsu (2008). "Vipera raddei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 12 May 2006.
  2. 1 2 3 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. ↑ "Vipera raddei". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
  4. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 312 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Vipera raddei, p. 215.)
  5. 1 2 Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
  6. ↑ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  7. ↑ Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles -- Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0-7137-1704-1.
  8. ↑ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
  9. ↑ Vipera raddei at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
  10. ↑ 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
  11. ↑ Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix III at Council of Europe. Accessed 9 October 2006.

Further reading

  • Boettger O. 1890. Eine neue Viper aus Armenien. Zoologischer Anzeiger 13: 62-64. ("Vipera Raddei n. sp.")
  • Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the...Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers.) xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. ("Vipera raddii [sic]", p. 487.)
  • Latifi, Mahmoud. 1991. The Snakes of Iran. Oxford, Ohio: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 167 pp. ISBN 0-916984-22-2. (Vipera raddei, Zanjhani viper, p. 134.)
  • Nilson G, Andrén C. 1986. The mountain vipers of the middle east: The Vipera xanthina complex. Bonner Zoologische Monographien 20: 1-90.

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