Trimeresurus mangshanensis

Trimeresurus mangshanensis
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Crotalinae
Genus:	Trimeresurus
Species:	T. mangshanensis
Binomial name
Trimeresurus mangshanensis Zhao, 1990
Synonyms
Trimeresurus mangshanensis - Zhao In Zhao & Chen, 1990 Ermia mangshanensis - Zhang, 1992 Ermia mangshanensis - Zhang, 1993[1]

Common names: Mangshan pitviper.^[2]

Trimeresurus mangshanensis is a venomous pitviper species endemic to Hunan province in China.^[1] It is reputed to be the only non-cobra known to spit venom.^[3] No subspecies are currently recognized.^[4]

Geographic range

Known only from the type locality: "Pingkeng, Mangshan (Mt. Mang), Izhang County, Hunan Province, China."^[1]

Conservation status

This species is classified as vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List for the following criteria: D2 (v2.3, 1994).^[5] This means that the population is very small and characterised by an acute restriction in its area of occupancy (typically less than 100 km²), or in the number of locations (typically less than five). It is therefore prone to the effects of human activities (or stochastic events whose impact is increased by human activities) within a very short period of time in an unforeseeable future, and is thus capable of becoming Critically Endangered or even Extinct in a very short period. Year assessed: 1996.^[6]

Habitat

Found in mountainous regions in Southern Hunan. Although first discovered in the Mt Mang mountain range, it is also found in surrounding areas. Primarily found in forested areas with thick vegetation and cover. Frequently rests against logs and other structures along animal trails to ambush prey. Can also be found in the numerous caves in the region. Winter temperatures in the region come close to freezing, whilst summer temperatures can reach 30°C or higher.

Taxonomy

This species was originally described in the genus Trimeresurus. A new genus, Ermia, was erected for the species in 1993.^[7] However, this genus name was already in use for a genus of locusts. The new generic name Zhaoermia was therefore proposed as a replacement name for Ermia.^[8] More recently, Guo et al. (2007)^[9] transferred the species to the genus Protobothrops, based on evidence that mangshanensis is phylogenetically nested within the existing species of that genus. The species is therefore currently known as Protobothrops mangshanensis.

See also

• List of crotaline species and subspecies
• Trimeresurus by common name
• Trimeresurus by taxonomic synonyms
• Crotalinae by common name
• Crotalinae by taxonomic synonyms
• Snakebite

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} 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. ^ Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. GeitjeBooks Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. ISBN 3-937975-00-4.
3. ^ O'Shea M. 2005. Venomous Snakes of the World. Princeton University Press. 160 pp. ISBN 0691124361.
4. ^ "Trimeresurus mangshanensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634924. Retrieved 4 November 2006. 
5. ^ Trimeresurus mangshanensis at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
6. ^ 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
7. ^ Zhang F.-J. (1993), Division of the genus Trimeresurus (sensu lato) (Serpentes: Viperidae), based on the morphology of their skulls,” in: E.-M. Zhao, B.-H. Chen, and T. J. Papenfuss (eds.), Proc. of the First Asian Herpetol. Meeting, Huangshan, China Forestry Press, Beijing, pp. 48 – 57.
8. ^ Gumprecht A, Tillack F. 2004. Proposal for a replacement name of the snake genus Ermia Zhang, 1993. Russ. J. Herpetol. 11(1): 73-76.
9. ^ Guo, P., A. Malhotra, P.P. Li, C.E. Pook & S. Creer (2007) New evidence on the phylogenetic position of the poorly known Asian pitviper Protobothrops kaulbacki (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) with a redescription of the species and a revision of the genus Protobothrops. Herpetological Journal 17: 237-246.

External links

• Zhaoermia mangshanensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 September 2007.
• Ermia at Herpbreeder.com. Accessed 26 September 2006.
• Image 1 of 2 at xinhuanet.com. Accessed 12 November 2006.
• Image 2 of 2 at xinhuanet.com. Accessed 12 November 2006.