Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea

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Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Macrovipera
Species: M. lebetina
Subspecies: M. l. transmediterranea
Trinomial name
Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea
(Nilson & Andrén, 1988)
Synonyms
  • Vipera lebetina transmediterranea - Nilson & Andrén, 1988
  • Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea - Spawls & Branch, 1995[1]
Common names: (none).

Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea is a venomous viper subspecies[2] found only in Algeria and Tunis.

Contents

[edit] Description

This subspecies is not known to exceed 1 m in length. It is further distinguished by having only 25 midbody dorsal scale rows, a lower ventral scale count of 150-164 scales and more fragmented head scales. The color pattern is light gray with 34-41 transverse bars that are each 2-3 scales wide.[3]

[edit] Geographic range

North Africa: restricted to the coastal mountains of Algeria and Tunis.[4] One of the few specific localities where they are know to occur is Djebel Murdjaro near Oran in western Algeria.[3] This subspecies may be sympatric with M. deserti and/or M. mauritanica.[4]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ 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. ^ Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea (TSN 635246). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 10 August 2006.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b 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.

[edit] External links