Protobothrops cornutus

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Protobothrops cornutus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Protobothrops
Species:
P. cornutus
Binomial name
Protobothrops cornutus
(M. A. Smith, 1930)
Synonyms[2]
  • Trimeresurus cornutus
    M. A. Smith, 1930
  • Ceratrimeresurus shenlii
    Liang & Liu, 2003
  • Protobothrops cornutus
    – Herrmann et al., 2004

Protobothrops cornutus, commonly known as the horned pit viper[1] or Fan-Si-Pan horned pit viper,[3] is a pit viper species found in northern and central Vietnam and in southern China (Guangdong).[1][2] No subspecies are currently recognized.[2]

Description

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Its maximum length is usually around 60-90cm. It has a long body, with a flat oblong trangular head differentiated from the body, with small scales. Its nostril scale is also triangular. [4] It was found to exhibit the largest attack acceleration among snakes, about 18g.[5]

Geographic range

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The type locality given is "Fan-si-pan mountains, Tonkin, Indo-China"[2][6] (=Mount Fansipan).[3] It is currently known from several provinces in Vietnam (Lao Cai Province, Ha Giang Province, Quang Binh Province, Hue City, Lang Son Province).[1] The only Chinese record is from Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County in northern Guangdong and was originally described as a new species, Ceratrimeresurus shenlii.[1][2]

Habitat

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It occurs in evergreen forest on both karst and granitic outcrops at elevations of 250–2,000 m (820–6,560 ft) above sea level.[1]

Close-up of head, showing "horns" to which the specific name, cornutus, refers.

Taxonomy

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Herrmann et al. (2004) moved this species to the genus Protobothrops based on external and hemipenal morphology, as well as molecular data.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b c d e Protobothrops cornutus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 17 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. GeitjeBooks. Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
  4. ^ https://www.gbif.org/species/2444155
  5. ^ https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/228/20/jeb250347/369412/Kinematics-of-strikes-in-venomous-snakes
  6. ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (series). Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (volume).

Further reading

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  • Smith, M.A. 1930. Two new Snakes from Tonkin, Indo-China. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 10, 6: 681-683.

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