Montivipera raddei albicornuta | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Viperidae |
Genus: | Montivipera |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | M. r. albicornuta
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Trinomial name | |
Montivipera raddei albicornuta Nilson & Andrén, 1985
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Synonyms [1] | |
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Montivipera raddei albicornuta is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to Iran. [1] [3] It is a subspecies of Montivipera raddei.
Grows to a maximum total length of 66 cm (26 in). [2]
The head is relatively small and elongated, although fairly distinct from the neck. The supraoculars are raised and separated from the eyes by a row of small scales. The nostril is centered in a large nasal scale that is partially fused with the prenasals. A loreal scale is present between the upper preocular and nasal. The supraoculars are separated by at least 7 scales, and by a total of 24-28 scales. The supraocular are separated from the supranasals by 2 canthal scales. 2 apical scales border the rostral. The rostral is wider than it is high. There are 12-16 intercanthals. The total number of scales on the top of the head is 39-40. There are 13-15 circumorbital scales with an incomplete outer ring of 13-17 scales. There are supralabials 9, separated from the eye by 1-2 scale rows. There are 11-12 sublabials, 2 large anterior chin shields, 4 posterior chin shields and 2-3 preventrals. [2]
Midbody there are 23 dorsal scale rows. The ventrals number 165-171. There are 35-38 subcaudals (in males). The anal scale is single. [2]
The color pattern consists of a grayish brown ground color with a darker brown zigzig pattern, made up of about 44-52 windings and edged with black. The belly is dark and mottled with a lighter shade. On the head, deep black bands run from the back of the eye to the angle of the mouth. Supraoculars noticeably pale. There is a row of dark blotches along each side of the dorsum. The back of the head has distinct, teardrop-shaped deep black spots. The throat is whitish with dark mottling. [2]
It is found in the Zanjan Valley and surrounding mountains in northwestern Iran. The type locality given is " Abhar in the Zanjan valley, between Tabriz and Teheran". [1] Mallow et al. (1993) describe the range as "parts of the Elburz, Talysh and Zanjan mountains". [2]
Montivipera raddei albicornuta | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Viperidae |
Genus: | Montivipera |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | M. r. albicornuta
|
Trinomial name | |
Montivipera raddei albicornuta Nilson & Andrén, 1985
| |
![]() | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Montivipera raddei albicornuta is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to Iran. [1] [3] It is a subspecies of Montivipera raddei.
Grows to a maximum total length of 66 cm (26 in). [2]
The head is relatively small and elongated, although fairly distinct from the neck. The supraoculars are raised and separated from the eyes by a row of small scales. The nostril is centered in a large nasal scale that is partially fused with the prenasals. A loreal scale is present between the upper preocular and nasal. The supraoculars are separated by at least 7 scales, and by a total of 24-28 scales. The supraocular are separated from the supranasals by 2 canthal scales. 2 apical scales border the rostral. The rostral is wider than it is high. There are 12-16 intercanthals. The total number of scales on the top of the head is 39-40. There are 13-15 circumorbital scales with an incomplete outer ring of 13-17 scales. There are supralabials 9, separated from the eye by 1-2 scale rows. There are 11-12 sublabials, 2 large anterior chin shields, 4 posterior chin shields and 2-3 preventrals. [2]
Midbody there are 23 dorsal scale rows. The ventrals number 165-171. There are 35-38 subcaudals (in males). The anal scale is single. [2]
The color pattern consists of a grayish brown ground color with a darker brown zigzig pattern, made up of about 44-52 windings and edged with black. The belly is dark and mottled with a lighter shade. On the head, deep black bands run from the back of the eye to the angle of the mouth. Supraoculars noticeably pale. There is a row of dark blotches along each side of the dorsum. The back of the head has distinct, teardrop-shaped deep black spots. The throat is whitish with dark mottling. [2]
It is found in the Zanjan Valley and surrounding mountains in northwestern Iran. The type locality given is " Abhar in the Zanjan valley, between Tabriz and Teheran". [1] Mallow et al. (1993) describe the range as "parts of the Elburz, Talysh and Zanjan mountains". [2]