Protobothrops mangshanensis

Protobothrops mangshanensis
File:Protobothrops mangshanensis mang pitviper LA zoo top.jpg
Conservation status
Endangered Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Protobothrops
Species:	P. mangshanensis
Binomial name
Protobothrops mangshanensis (Zhao, 1990)
Synonyms
Trimeresurus mangshanensis Zhao In Zhao & Chen, 1990 Ermia mangshanensis — Zhang, 1993 Trimeresurus mangshanensis — McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré, 1999 Zhaoermia mangshanensis — Gumprecht & Tillack, 2004 (nomen novum) Protobothrops mangshanensis — Guo et al., 2007 Protobothrops mangshanensis — Orlov et al., 2009

Protobothrops mangshanensis, commonly known as the Mangshan pit viper, Mt. Mang pit viper, or Mang Mountain pit viper, is a pit viper species endemic to Hunan and Guangdong provinces in China.

Taxonomy

This species was originally described in the genus Trimeresurus. A new genus, Ermia, named in honor of Chinese herpetologist Zhao Ermi, was erected for the species in 1993. However, by coincidence, this generic name was already in use for a genus of locusts. The new generic name Zhaoermia was therefore proposed as a replacement name for Ermia. More recently, Guo et al. (2007) transferred the species to the genus Protobothrops, based on evidence T. mangshanensis is phylogenetically nested within the existing species of that genus. The species is therefore currently known as Protobothrops mangshanensis. No subspecies are currently recognized.

File:Trimeresurus mangshanensis (2).jpg

Closeup

Description

This is a nocturnal pit viper that is also known as the ''Mangshan iron-head snake'', ''Chinese pit viper'', and the ''Ironhead viper''. The species reaches an adult weight of 3–5 kilograms (6.6–11.0 lb) and a length of up to 203 centimetres (6.66 ft). They have a white tail tip that they wiggle to mimic a grub so that prey comes into striking range—a behaviour known as caudal luring.

Mangshan vipers eat frogs, birds, insects, and small mammals. The venom causes blood clotting and corrodes muscle tissue and can be fatal to humans if not treated.

It is sometimes claimed that P. mangshanensis "spits" venom, in a manner similar to spitting cobras

Unusually for vipers, P. mangshanensis is oviparous with the female laying clutches of 13–21 eggs which she will guard until they hatch.

Distribution and habitat

The species is known from the type locality: "Pingkeng, Mangshan (Mt. Mang), Yizhang County, Hunan", as well as from Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County in Guangdong province, both in southern China. This pitviper is found in mountainous regions in southern Hunan and northern Guangdong at elevations of 800–1,300 m (2,600–4,300 ft) above sea level. Although first discovered in the Mt. Mang mountain range, it is also found in surrounding areas, primarily in subtropical montane forest with thick vegetation and cover. It is often found lying along lichen-covered logs and other structures along animal trails to ambush prey, and can also be found in the numerous limestone caves in the region. Winter temperatures in the region come close to freezing, whilst summer temperatures can reach 30 °C (86 °F) or higher.

Conservation status

This species is listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN on the basis that this species has an extent of occurrence and area of occupancy both unlikely to exceed 300 km² (120 mi²), it is known from two locations at risk from harvesting for the international pet trade and as a local delicacy, and there is a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals.

See also

• List of crotaline species and subspecies
• Snakebite

Further reading

• Zhao, Ermi and Yuanhui Chen. 1990. Description of a new species of the genus Trimeresurus. (in Chinese with abstract in English.) Sichuan Journal of Zoology 9 (1): 11-12.