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Vipera ursinii



Vipera ursinii

Conservation status

Endangered (IUCN)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Vipera
Species: V. ursinii
Binomial name
Vipera ursinii
(Bonaparte, 1835)
Synonyms
  • Coluber foetidus - Güldenstedt In Georgi, 1801
  • Pelias Ursinii - Bonaparte, 1835
  • [P[elias]. berus] Var. Ursinii - Cope, 1860
  • Pelias chersea vel Ursinii - Cope, 1860
  • Pelias Renardi - Christoph, 1861
  • [Vipera berus] var. rákosiensis - Méhely, 1893
  • Vipera ursinii - Boulenger, 1893
  • Vipera renardi - Boulenger, 1893
  • Vipera ursinii var. rakosiensis - Méhely, 1894
  • Vipera ursinii - Boulenger, 1896
  • Vipera renardi - Boulenger, 1896
  • Vipera macrops - Méhely, 1911
  • Vipera ursinii macrops - Bolkay, 1924
  • Vipera (Pelias) ursinii forma trans. rudolphi - Reuss, 1924
  • Acridophaga ursinii - Reuss, 1927
  • Vipera ursinii ursinii - Müller, 1927
  • Coluber ursinoides - Nikolsky, 1927
  • Peilas berus var. uralensis - Reuss, 1929 (nomen nudum)
  • Acridophaga uralensis - Reuss, 1929
  • Vipera berus var. ralosiensis - Werner, 1929
  • A[cridophaga]. (renardi) eriwanensis - Reuss, 1933
  • Vipera ursinii renardi - Schwarz, 1936
  • Vipera ursinii macrops - Schwarz, 1936
  • Acridophaga ursini - Werner, 1938
  • Vipera berus var. renardi - Başoğlu, 1947
  • Vipera ursinii rakosiensis - Knoepffler & Sochurek, 1955
  • Vipera ursinii ebneri - Knoepffler & Sochurek, 1955
  • Vipera ursinii wettsteini - Knoepffler & Sochurek, 1955
  • Vipera orsinii - Ghidini, 1958
  • Vipera ursinii ursinii - Kramer, 1961
  • Vipera ursinii rudolphi - Kramer, 1961
  • Acridophaga eriwanensis - Kramer, 1961
  • Vipera ursinii anatolica - Eiselt & Baran, 1970
  • Vipera ursinii renardi - Saint-Girons, 1978
  • Vipera (Vipera) ursinii ursinii - Obst, 1983
  • Vipera (Vipera) ursinii macrops - Obst, 1983
  • Vipera (Vipera) ursinii rakosiensis - Obst, 1983
  • Vipera (Vipera) ursinii renardi - Obst, 1983
  • Vipera (Vipera) ursinii wettsteini - Obst, 1983
  • Vipera ursinii eriwanensis - Nilson, Andrén & Flärdh, 1988
  • Vipera ursinii graeca - Nilson & Andrén, 1988
  • V[ipera]. ursinii rakoniensis - González, 1991
  • Vipera ursinii - Latifi, 1991
  • Vipera ursinii moldavica - Nilson, Andrén & Joger, 1993[1]
Common names: meadow viper, Ursini's viper,[2] meadow adder,[3] (more).

Vipera ursinii is a venomous viper and a very widespread species, found from southeastern France all the way to China (Xinjiang).[1] No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]

Contents

Description

Adults average 40-50 cm in length, although specimens of 63-80 cm have been reported.[2]

Common names

Meadow viper, Ursini's viper,[2], meadow adder,[3] Orsini's viper, field viper,[5] field adder.[6] Although the following subspecies are currently invalid according to the taxonomy used here, their common names may still be encountered:

  • V. u. ursinii - Italian meadow viper.[5]
  • V. u. macrops - karst viper,[5] karst adder.[3]
  • V. u. rakosiensis - Danubian meadow viper.[5]
  • V. u. renardi - steppe viper,[5] steppe adder, Renard's viper.[3]
  • V. u. wettsteini - French meadow viper.[5]

Geographic range

Southeastern France, eastern Austria (extinct), Hungary, central Italy, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, northern and northeastern Albania, Romania, northern Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and across the Khazakstan, Kirgizia and eastern Uzbekistan steppes to China (Xinjiang). The type locality given is " ... monti dell' Abruzzo prossimi alla provincia d'Ascoli... " (mountains of Abruzzi, Ascoli Province, Italy).[1]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: A1c+2c (v2.3, 1994).[7] This indicates an observed, estimated, inferred or suspected population reduction of at least 80% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, based on a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat. For the same reason, a population reduction of at least 80% is projected or suspected to be met within the next 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer. Year assessed: 1996.[8]

In addition, this species is listed on CITES Appendix I, which means that it is threatened with extinction if trade is not halted,[9] and is a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention.[10]

Taxonomy

There is high genetic diversity within samples of V. ursinii and several species may be involved. At least six subspecies may be encountered in modern literature:[1]

  • V. u. ursinii - Bonaparte, 1835
  • V. u. eriwanensis - Reuss, 1933
  • V. u. rakosiensis - Méhely, 1893
  • V. u. renardi - Christoph, 1861
  • V. u. moldavica - Nilson, Andrén & Joger, 1993
  • V. u. graeca - Nilson & Andrén, 1988

Golay et al. (1993) recognize the first four,[1] while Mallow et al. (2003) recognize the last two.[2] However, McDiarmid et al (1999), and thus ITIS, feel that more definitive data is necessary before any subspecies can be recognized.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ^ a b c d Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
  3. ^ a b c d 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.
  4. ^ Vipera ursinii (TSN 635002). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 19 August 2006.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Steward JW. 1971. The Snakes of Europe. Cranbury, New Jersey: Associated University Press (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press). 238 pp. LCCCN 77-163307. ISBN 0-8386-1023-4.
  6. ^ Hellmich, W. 1962. Reptiles and Amphibians of Europe. London, Blanford Press. 160 pp. 68 plates. Translated from Winter, C. 1956. Die Lurche Und Kriechtiere Europas. Universitatsverlag, gegr. 1822, GmbH., Heidelberg, Germany.
  7. ^ Vipera ursinii at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
  8. ^ 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
  9. ^ Vipera ursinii at CITES and United Nations Environment Programme / World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Accessed 8 October 2006.
  10. ^ Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix II at Council of Europe. Accessed 9 October 2006.

Further reading

  • Golay P, Smith HM, Broadley DG, Dixon JR, McCarthy C, Rage J-C, Schätti B, Toriba M. 1993. Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World: A Checklist. Geneva: Azemiops. 498 pp.
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Vipera_ursinii". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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