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Macrovipera deserti

Macrovipera deserti

Near Threatened (IUCN)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Macrovipera
Species:	M. deserti

Binomial name

Macrovipera deserti
(Anderson, 1892)

Synonyms

Vipera lebetina var. deserti - Anderson, 1892
Vipera mauritanica deserti - Kramer & Schnurrenberger, 1959
Daboia (Daboia) lebetina deserti - Obst, 1983
Macrovipera deserti - Herrmann, Joger & Nilson, 1992^[1]

Common names: desert viper,^[2]^[3] Libyan desert blunt-nosed viper,^[4] more.

Macrovipera deserti is a venomous viper species found in North Africa.^[1] No subspecies are currently recognized.^[5]

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1 Description
2 Common names
3 Geographic range
4 Conservation status
5 Habitat
6 Reproduction
7 Venom
8 See also
9 References

Description

Grows to a length of 1.6 m.^[2] Others say 1.3 m.^[3]

Common names

Desert viper,^[2]^[3] Libyan desert blunt-nosed viper,^[4] desert adder,^[6] Sahara adder, Sahara viper.^[7]

Geographic range

Found in North Africa in Libya, Tunisia and possibly in Algeria. The type locality given in the original description is "Duriat, South Tunisia."^[1] Mallow et al. (2003) mention that it does occur in the southern foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria.^[3]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).^[8] Classified as such because its extent of occurrence is probably not much greater than 20,000 km² and its population is likely declining due to over-harvesting and persecution, therefore making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable. The population trend is down. Year assessed: 2005.^[9]

Habitat

Occurs in rocky, mountainous areas that are semiarid, but well-vegetated.^[2]

Reproduction

This species lays eggs (oviparous).^[2]

Venom

Little is known. Antivenoms meant for M. lebetina and Daboia russelii show the strongest cross-reactivity with this venom.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c 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).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
^ ^a ^b Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
^ Macrovipera deserti (TSN 634952). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 6 August 2006.
^ 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.
^ U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
^ Daboia deserti at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.

Category: Viperinae

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Macrovipera_deserti". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.