Vipera dinniki
| Vipera dinniki | |
|---|---|
| File:BennyTrapp Vipera dinniki.jpg | |
| Scientific classification Error creating thumbnail: | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Vipera |
| Species: | V. dinniki
|
| Binomial name | |
| Vipera dinniki Nikolsky, 1913
| |
| File:Vipera dinniki distribution.png | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
- Common names: Dinnik's viper, Caucasus subalpine viper.[3]
Vipera dinniki is a viper species native to the Caucasus Mountains region, part of Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.[2] Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]
Etymology
[edit | edit source]The specific name, dinniki, is in honor of Russian herpetologist Nikolai Yakovlevich Dinnik.[5][6]
Description
[edit | edit source]Of the 49 Russian specimens of V. dinniki examined by Orlov and Tuniyev (1990), 29 were males, and the largest male measured 41.2 cm (16.2 in) in total length (including tail). Of the 20 females, the largest was 48.6 cm (19.1 in) in total length.[3]
Geographic range
[edit | edit source]Vipera dinniki is found from Russia (Great Caucasus) and Georgia (high mountain basin of the Inguri River), eastward to Azerbaijan.
According to Nikolsky (1916), the type locality is "upper reaches of the Malaya Laba 8000 feet [2438 m] above sea level ... and Svanetia, 7000 feet [2134 m] above sea level." According to Nilson et al. (1995), Vedmederja et al. (1986) restricted the type locality to "Malaya Laba" through lectotype selection. Orlov and Tuniyev (1990) give the lectotype locality as "Upper reaches of the Mala (Small) Laba River, Northern Caucasus".[2]
Habitat
[edit | edit source]The preferred natural habitats of V. dinniki are forest, shrubland, grassland, and rocky areas, at altitudes of 1,500–2,800 m (4,900–9,200 ft).[1]
Reproduction
[edit | edit source]V. dinniki is viviparous. Mating occurs in April and May, and young are born in August and September. Litter size is 3–7 newborns.[1]
Conservation status
[edit | edit source]This species, V. dinikki, is classified as vulnerable according to the IUCN with the following criteria: B1ab(iii,v) (v3.1, 2009).[1] This indicates that the population occupies a severely fragmented area over a range of less than 20,000 km2 (7,700 mi2). A continued decline in habitat size or quality and in population is expected.[7]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: 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).
- ^ a b Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).. (Vipera dinniki, p. 73).
- ^ Lescure, Jean; Le Garff, Bernard (2006). L'étymologie des noms d'amphibiens et de reptiles d'Europe. Paris: Éditions Belin. 207 pp. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).. (in French).
- ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 21 February 2015.
Further reading
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Species Vipera dinniki at The Reptile Database
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