Vipera darevskii

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Vipera darevskii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Vipera
Species: V. darevskii
Binomial name
Vipera darevskii
Vedmederja, Orlov & Tuniyev, 1986
Synonyms
  • Vipera kaznakowi dinniki - Darevskij, 1956
  • Vipera kaznakowi darevskii - Vedmederja, 1984
  • Vipera darevskii - Vedmederja, Orlov & Tuniyev, 1986[1]

Common names: Darevsky's viper.[2]


Vipera darevskii is a venomous viper species found in Armenia and possibly also in Georgia.[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Description

The reported maximum length for females is 42.1 cm. The largest male was 25.8 cm.[2]

Geographic range

The southeastern Dzavachet Mountains in Armenia and adjacent areas in Georgia. Recentrly also described from the east of the Artvin province of Turkey. The type locality given is "Mount Legli, Mokrye mountains, Gukasyanskii region, Armenia."[1]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: C2b (v2.3, 1994).[4] This indicates that the population estimated to number less than 250 mature individuals and that a continuing decline has been observed, projected, or inferred, in the numbers of mature individuals, and that all individuals are in a single subpopulation. Year assessed: 1996.[5]

See also

Cited references

  1. 1.0 1.1 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. 2.0 2.1 2.2 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. Vipera darevskii (TSN 634991). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 17 August 2006.
  4. Vipera darevskii at IUCN Red List. Accessed 6 October 2006.
  5. 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3)IUCN Red List. Accessed 6 October 2006.

External links