Montivipera xanthina, known as the rock viper, coastal viper, Ottoman viper,[4] and by other common names, is a viperspecies found in northeastern Greece and Turkey, as well as certain islands in the Aegean Sea. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.[5]
It usually grows to a total length (body + tail) of 70–95 cm (27.6-37.4 in), but reaches a maximum total length of 130 cm (51.2 in) on certain Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.[4]
Habitatedit
Montivipera xanthina can be found living in humid areas.[7] It favors rocky and "well-vegetated" areas for its habitat.[7]
The type locality given is "Xanthus" [southwestern Turkey (Kınık)], and "Asia Minor." Listed as "Xanthos" by Schwarz (1936). Nilson and Andrén (1986) restricted the species to "Xanthos" [= Xanthus] (Kınık) province Mugla, S. W. Turkish Anatolia" through lectotype designation.[2]
Conservation statusedit
This species is classified as least concern according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] It is listed as such due to its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. It is, however, listed as strictly protected (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention.[9]
Taxonomyedit
According to Nilson, Andrén and Flärdh (1990), M. bornmuelleri, M. bulgardaghica, M. wagneri and M. xanthina are all closely related and together form the Montivipera xanthina group or complex.[2]
Venomedit
There is not much information and data about the venom composition, activity, and lethality of this specific species. However, similar to other species within the genus Montivipera and the related Vipera genus, it has mainly cytotoxic, haemotoxic, and other minor components to its venom. Although it injects only small amounts of venom in a bite, the venom of this species is highly potent and has been known to have caused fatalities in adult humans. This can be more common in young children or older individuals that get a case of severe envenomation (especially if fangs inject venom directly into a vein, for instance).
According to Batzri-Izraeli et al, 1982, the LD50 value via intravenous injection (IV) was 0.25 mg/kg.[10] Similarly, Iranian herpetologist Mahmoud Latifi found the lethality (LD50) of the crude venom from the species Montivipera xanthina to be 0.42 mg/kg in a 1984 study,[11] and 0.35 mg/kg in a 1985 study, which Latifi conducted for the Department of the Environment in Iran (was translated to English in 1991). For most adult male humans of 70 kg (150 lb), the estimated lethal dose is thought to be between 40–50 mg.[12] In his 1984 study, Latifi found the average venom yield to be 10 mg (dry weight of milked venom). This average was attained from the milking of 4,446 specimens of M. xanthina. The maximum yield was 18 mg (dry weight of milked venom) in the same study.[11]
Further readingedit
Arnold, EN, Burton JA. 1978. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. 272 pp. ISBN0-00-219318-3. (Vipera xanthina, p. 223 + Plate 40 + Map 126.)
Gray JE. 1849. Catalogue of the Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer.) xv + 125 pp. (Daboia Xanthina, p. 24.)
Nilson G, Andrén C. 1986. The mountain vipers of the Middle East: The Vipera xanthina complex. Bonner Zoologische Monographien20: 1-90.
Nilson G, Andrén C, and Flärdh B. 1990. Vipera albizona a new mountain viper from central Turkey, with comments on the isolating effects of the Anatolian "diagonal." Amphibia-Reptilia11: 285-294.
Schwarz E. 1936. Untersuchungen über Systematik und Verbreitung der europäischen und mediterranen Ottern. Behringwerke-Mitteilungen7: 159-262.
Referencesedit
^ abWolfgang Böhme; Petros Lymberakis; Varol Tok; Ismail H. Ugurtas; Murat Sevinç; Pierre-André Crochet; Yakup Kaska; Yusuf Kumlutaş; Aziz Avci; Nazan Üzüm; et al. (2009). "Montivipera xanthina". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2009: e.T61537A86548598. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61537A12509884.en. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
^ abcMcDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^ abcMallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN0-89464-877-2.
^ abcdO'Shea, M. 2008. Venomous Snakes of the World. London: New Holland Publishers Ltd. 160 pp. ISBN1-84773-086-8. (Vipera xanthina, p. 58.)
^Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles -- Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN0-7137-1704-1.
^Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix II at Council of Europe. Accessed 9 October 2006.
^Batzri-Izraeli, R; Bdolah, A (1982). "Isolation and characterization of the main toxic fraction from the venom of the false horned viper (Pseudocerastes fieldi)". Toxicon. 20 (5): 867–875. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(82)90074-5. PMID 7179294. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
^ abLatifi, M (1984). "Variation in yield and lethality of venoms from Iranian snakes". Toxicon. 22 (3): 373–380. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(84)90081-3. PMID 6474490.
^Latifi, Mahmoud (1991). Snakes of Iran. Oxford, Ohio: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. ISBN978-0-916984-22-9.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Montivipera xanthina.
Montivipera xanthina at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 18 January 2010.
Montivipera xanthina at Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe. Accessed 18 January 2010.
October 29, 2023
montivipera, xanthina, known, rock, viper, coastal, viper, ottoman, viper, other, common, names, viper, species, found, northeastern, greece, turkey, well, certain, islands, aegean, like, other, vipers, venomous, subspecies, currently, recognized, conservation. Montivipera xanthina known as the rock viper coastal viper Ottoman viper 4 and by other common names is a viper species found in northeastern Greece and Turkey as well as certain islands in the Aegean Sea Like all other vipers it is venomous No subspecies are currently recognized 5 Montivipera xanthinaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ViperidaeGenus MontiviperaSpecies M xanthinaBinomial nameMontivipera xanthina Gray 1849 Synonyms 2 Montivipera xanthina Nilson et al 1999 3 Daboia Xanthina Gray 1849 Vipera xanthina Strauch 1869 Vipera lebetina var xanthina F Werner 1902 Vipera xanthina xanthina Mertens 1952 Daboia Daboia xanthina Obst 1983 Daboia Vipera xanthina Radspieler amp Schweiger 1990 Vipera xanthina Nilson Andren amp Flardh 1990 V ipera xanthina xanthina Gonzalez 1991 Contents 1 Description 1 1 Habitat 1 2 Prey 2 Common names 3 Geographic range 4 Conservation status 5 Taxonomy 6 Venom 7 Further reading 8 References 9 External linksDescription editDorsally it is grey or white with a black zig zag stripe Melanistic individuals exist It has keeled dorsal scales 6 It usually grows to a total length body tail of 70 95 cm 27 6 37 4 in but reaches a maximum total length of 130 cm 51 2 in on certain Greek islands in the Aegean Sea 4 Habitat edit Montivipera xanthina can be found living in humid areas 7 It favors rocky and well vegetated areas for its habitat 7 Prey edit The diet of M xanthina is thought to consist of rodents and other small mammals and native birds 7 It may prey on lizards as well 7 Common names editRock viper coastal viper Ottoman viper Turkish viper Near East viper 4 mountain viper 8 Geographic range editExtreme northeastern Greece the Greek islands of Simi Skiathos Kos Kalimnos Samothraki Leros Lipsos Patmos Samos Chios and Lesbos European Turkey the western half of Anatolia inland eastward to Kayseri and islands e g Chalki of the Turkish mainland shelf The type locality given is Xanthus southwestern Turkey Kinik and Asia Minor Listed as Xanthos by Schwarz 1936 Nilson and Andren 1986 restricted the species to Xanthos Xanthus Kinik province Mugla S W Turkish Anatolia through lectotype designation 2 Conservation status editThis species is classified as least concern according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1 It is listed as such due to its wide distribution presumed large population and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category It is however listed as strictly protected Appendix II under the Berne Convention 9 Taxonomy editAccording to Nilson Andren and Flardh 1990 M bornmuelleri M bulgardaghica M wagneri and M xanthina are all closely related and together form the Montivipera xanthina group or complex 2 Venom editThere is not much information and data about the venom composition activity and lethality of this specific species However similar to other species within the genus Montivipera and the related Vipera genus it has mainly cytotoxic haemotoxic and other minor components to its venom Although it injects only small amounts of venom in a bite the venom of this species is highly potent and has been known to have caused fatalities in adult humans This can be more common in young children or older individuals that get a case of severe envenomation especially if fangs inject venom directly into a vein for instance According to Batzri Izraeli et al 1982 the LD50 value via intravenous injection IV was 0 25 mg kg 10 Similarly Iranian herpetologist Mahmoud Latifi found the lethality LD50 of the crude venom from the species Montivipera xanthina to be 0 42 mg kg in a 1984 study 11 and 0 35 mg kg in a 1985 study which Latifi conducted for the Department of the Environment in Iran was translated to English in 1991 For most adult male humans of 70 kg 150 lb the estimated lethal dose is thought to be between 40 50 mg 12 In his 1984 study Latifi found the average venom yield to be 10 mg dry weight of milked venom This average was attained from the milking of 4 446 specimens of M xanthina The maximum yield was 18 mg dry weight of milked venom in the same study 11 Further reading editArnold EN Burton JA 1978 A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe London Collins 272 pp ISBN 0 00 219318 3 Vipera xanthina p 223 Plate 40 Map 126 Gray JE 1849 Catalogue of the Specimens of Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum London Trustees of the British Museum Edward Newman printer xv 125 pp Daboia Xanthina p 24 Nilson G Andren C 1986 The mountain vipers of the Middle East The Vipera xanthina complex Bonner Zoologische Monographien 20 1 90 Nilson G Andren C and Flardh B 1990 Vipera albizona a new mountain viper from central Turkey with comments on the isolating effects of the Anatolian diagonal Amphibia Reptilia 11 285 294 Schwarz E 1936 Untersuchungen uber Systematik und Verbreitung der europaischen und mediterranen Ottern Behringwerke Mitteilungen 7 159 262 References edit a b Wolfgang Bohme Petros Lymberakis Varol Tok Ismail H Ugurtas Murat Sevinc Pierre Andre Crochet Yakup Kaska Yusuf Kumlutas Aziz Avci Nazan Uzum et al 2009 Montivipera xanthina The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN 2009 e T61537A86548598 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2009 RLTS T61537A12509884 en Retrieved 9 January 2018 a b c McDiarmid RW Campbell JA Toure T 1999 Snake Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference Volume 1 Herpetologists League 511 pp ISBN 1 893777 00 6 series ISBN 1 893777 01 4 volume The Reptile Database www reptile database org a b c Mallow D Ludwig D Nilson G 2003 True Vipers Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers Malabar Florida Krieger Publishing Company 359 pp ISBN 0 89464 877 2 Montivipera xanthina www itis gov Retrieved 2022 02 27 1000 Pictures Free Desktop Wallpaper a b c d O Shea M 2008 Venomous Snakes of the World London New Holland Publishers Ltd 160 pp ISBN 1 84773 086 8 Vipera xanthina p 58 Gotch AF 1986 Reptiles Their Latin Names Explained Poole UK Blandford Press 176 pp ISBN 0 7137 1704 1 Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats Appendix II at Council of Europe Accessed 9 October 2006 Batzri Izraeli R Bdolah A 1982 Isolation and characterization of the main toxic fraction from the venom of the false horned viper Pseudocerastes fieldi Toxicon 20 5 867 875 doi 10 1016 0041 0101 82 90074 5 PMID 7179294 Retrieved 24 September 2022 a b Latifi M 1984 Variation in yield and lethality of venoms from Iranian snakes Toxicon 22 3 373 380 doi 10 1016 0041 0101 84 90081 3 PMID 6474490 Latifi Mahmoud 1991 Snakes of Iran Oxford Ohio Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles ISBN 978 0 916984 22 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Montivipera xanthina Montivipera xanthina at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 18 January 2010 Montivipera xanthina at Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe Accessed 18 January 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Montivipera xanthina amp oldid 1172676973, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
