Vipera pontica

Taxobox
name = "Vipera pontica"
status = CR
status_system = iucn2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Viperidae
subfamilia = Viperinae
genus = "Vipera"
species = "V. pontica"
binomial = "Vipera pontica"
binomial_authority = Billing, Nilson & Sattler, 1990
synonyms = * "Vipera pontica" - Billing, Nilson & Sattler, 1990McDiarmid 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).] :"Common names: Pontic adder.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.] ""Vipera pontica" is a venomous viper species found in Turkey and Georgia. No subspecies are currently recognized.ITIS|ID=634999|taxon="Vipera pontica"|year=2006|date=18 August]

Description

Probably does not grow to more than 60 cm in length. The largest type specimen was 277 mm.

Holotype: NHMG 5021.

Geographic range

Known only from the Çoruh River valley in Artvin Province, northeastern Turkey. It is probably also found in the Turkish province of Erzurum, as well as the Kura valley in Georgia. Mallow et al. (2003) describe the range as Turkish Anatolia and adjacent parts of Georgia. The type locality is "Coruh valley, province Artvin, northeastern Turkey.

Conservation status

This species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: C2ab, D (v2.3, 1994).Redlist species|no=23002|genus=Vipera|species=pontica|date=2 September|year=2007] This indicates that the total population is estimated to number less than 250 mature individuals. A continuing decline has been observed, projected, or inferred in numbers of mature individuals. It is unclear whether the population structure is either severely fragmented (i.e. no subpopulation estimated to contain more than 50 mature individuals), or that all individuals are in a single subpopulation. In case of the latter, the total population may number less than 50 mature individuals. Year assessed: 1996.Redlist CC1994|date=2 September|year=2007] It is also listed as a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention. [http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/FR/Treaties/Html/104-2.htm Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix II] at [http://conventions.coe.int/ Council of Europe] . Accessed 9 October 2006.]

Habitat

Found on steep wooded mountain slopes with rock outcroppings and piles of stones.

ee also

* List of viperine species and subspecies
*
*
* Snakebite

References

Further reading

* Billing H, Nilson G, Sattler U. 1990. "Vipera pontica" sp.n., a new viper species in the "kaznakovi" group (Reptilia, Viperidae) from northeastern Turkey and adjacent Transcaucasia. Zoologica Scripta 19:227-231.

External links

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