Vipera raddei

Vipera raddei
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Vipera
Species:	V. raddei
Binomial name
Vipera raddei Boettger, 1890
Synonyms
Vipera xanthina - Strauch, 1869 Vipera xanthina - Strauch, 1873 Vipera Raddei - Boettger 1890 Vipera raddii - Boulenger, 1896 Coluber raddei - Nikolsky, 1916 Vipera lebetina raddei - Schwarz, 1936 Vipera xanthina raddei - Mertens, 1952 Daboia (Daboia) raddei raddei - Obst, 1983 Daboia raddei - Engelmann et al., 1985 Vipera raddei - Nilson & Andrén, 1986 Vipera raddei kurdistanica - Nilson & Andrén, 1986 Vipera raddei - Latifi, 1991[2]

Common names: rock viper, Radde's mountain viper, Armenian mountain viper,^[3] more.

Vipera raddei is a venomous viper species found in Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and possibly also Iraq. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[4]

Description

Adult males grow to a maximum length of 99 cm. Adult females are smaller with a maximum of 79 cm.^[3]

Common name

Rock viper, Radde's mountain viper, Armenian mountain viper,^[3] Armenian viper,^[5] Radde's viper,^[6] Armenian mountain adder.^[7]

Geographic range

Eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and probably Iraq. This species is parapatric or slightly sympatric with V. wagneri in the Aras river valley, Kars Province, eastern Turkey. The type locality is listed as "Kasikoparan in Armenien." According to Nilson and Andrén (1986), Kasikoparan, Armenia (40°02'N, 43°26'E)] is now part of Turkey (Kazikkiran [Kazikkoparan]), Tuzluca, Kars Province, northeastern Anatolia).^[2]

Conservation status

This species is classified as Lower Risk with a subcategory of least concern (LR/lc) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1994).^[8] This indicates that it has been evaluated, but that it does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Also, it does not qualify for Conservation Dependent or Near Threatened either. Year assessed: 1996.^[9]

It is, however, listed as a protected species (Appendix III) under the Berne Convention.^[10]

Taxonomy

This species is apparently closely related to V. albicornuta and V. latifii; together they form the Vipera raddei group or complex.^[2]

Gallery

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  Vipera raddei

See also

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

References

1. ^ Göran Nilson, Claus Andrén, Aziz Avci, Ferdi Akarsu (2008). "Vipera raddei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/22993. Retrieved 12 May 2006. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
3. ^ ^{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.
4. ^ "Vipera raddei". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=635000. Retrieved 2 September 2007. 
5. ^ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
6. ^ Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles -- Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0-7137-1704-1.
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. ^ Vipera raddei at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
9. ^ 1994 Categories & Criteria (version 2.3) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
10. ^ Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix III at Council of Europe. Accessed 9 October 2006.

Further reading

• Nilson G, Andrén C. 1986. The mountain vipers of the middle east: The Vipera xanthina complex. Bonner Zoologische Monographien 20.

External links

• Vipera raddei at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 September 2007.
• Vipera raddei at Checklist of Armenia's Amphibians and Reptiles, Tadevosyan's Herpetological Resources. Accessed 30 March 2007.