Macrovipera mauritanica

Macrovipera mauritanica
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Macrovipera
Species:	M. mauritanica
Binomial name
Macrovipera mauritanica (Duméril & Bibron, 1848)
Synonyms
Echidna mauritanica - Duméril & Bibron, 1848 Clotho ? mauritanica - Gray, 1849 Vipera minuta - Eichwald, 1851 Bitis mauritanica - Günther, 1858 Vipera confluenta - Cope, 1863 Vipera mauritanica - Strauch, 1869 Vipera euphratica var. mauritanica - Boettger, 1883 Vipera lebetina - Boulenger, 1896 Vipera lebetina mauritanica - Schwartz, 1936 Daboia (Daboia) lebetina mauritanica - Obst, 1983 Macrovipera mauritanica - Herrmann, Joger & Nilson, 1992[1]

Common names: Moorish viper,^[2] Sahara rock viper,^[3] Atlas blunt-nosed viper,^[4] more.

Macrovipera mauritanica is a venomous viper species found in northwestern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[5]

Description

Reaches a maximum length of 180 cm.^[2][6]

Common names

Moorish viper,^[2] Sahara rock viper,^[3] Atlas blunt-nosed viper,^[4] Atlas adder,^[7] mountain adder.^[3]

Geographic range

Northwestern Africa: Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The type locality is "Algiers", according to Gray (1842), "Algeria" according to Schwarz (1936).^[1] Limited to the coastal regions of Algeria. Coastal records from Tunisia may refer to M. deserti.^[6]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001).^[8] Classified as such because this species is likely in significant decline (but at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) due to persecution, accidental mortality and over-harvested, therefore making it close to qualifying for Vulnerable. The population trend is down. Year assessed: 2005.^[9]

See also

• List of viperine species and subspecies
• Viperinae by common name
• Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
• Snakebite

References

1. ^ ^{a b} 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. ^ ^{a b c} Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
3. ^ ^{a b c} U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
4. ^ ^{a b} Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
5. ^ "Macrovipera mauritanica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634978. Retrieved 9 August 2006. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
7. ^ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
8. ^ Daboia mauritanica at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
9. ^ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.

External links

• Macrovipera mauritanica at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 9 August 2007.
• Video of Macrovipera mauritanica on YouTube. Accessed 9 September 2007.