| Gloydius halys | |
|---|---|
| Gloydius halys in Central Mongolia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Subfamily: | Crotalinae |
| Genus: | Gloydius |
| Species: | G. halys |
| Binomial name | |
| Gloydius halys (Pallas, 1776) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Gloydius halys is a venomous pitviper species found within a wide range that stretches from Russia, east of the Urals, eastwards through China and also includes the southern Ryukyu Islands. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the typical form described here.[5]
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Grows to a maximum length of 59 cm, which was for a female, with a tail length of 68 mm. The largest male on record measured 53 cm with a tail length of 80 mm. The body build is described as moderately stout with a snout that is slightly upturned when viewed from the side.[2]
Siberian pit viper,[2] Halys viper,[3] Halys pit viper, Pallas' pit viper, Asiatic pit viper, Asiatic moccasin,[4] shchitomordnik,[6] Pallas' viper, Pallas pit viper, Korean pit viper, Mongolian pit viper.[7]
Found in Russia, east of the Ural Mountains through Siberia, Iran, Mongolia to northern and central China, as well as the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan. According to Gloyd and Conant (1990), the type locality given is "Salt Lake near the Lugaskoi Sawod (factory) on the Upper Yenisey" (Siberia, Russia). Redefined by Bour (1993) as "Naryn or Ryn Peski desert, near the Russia-Kazakhstan border."[1]
| Subspecies[5] | Taxon author[5] | Common name[8] | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| G. h. boehmei | Nilson, 1983 | Boehme's pitviper | Known only from the type locality: Andarab valley, province of Baghlan, at 2,500 m altitude, eastern Afghanistan.[8] |
| G. h. caraganus | (Eichwald, 1831) | Karaganda pitviper | From southeastern Europe, in the Ural and Emba River valleys, and (at least formerly) in the Volga River valley, through much of Kazakhstan, including northern Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kirgistan, into northwestern China.[2] |
| G. h. cognatus | (Gloyd, 1977) | Alashan pitviper | North-central China, from eastern Qinghai across southern Gansu, probably also in Qinghai, and possibly eastwards into Hebei and northwards into Inner Mongolia.[8] |
| G. h. halys | (Pallas, 1776) | Siberian pitviper | Southern Siberia and Mongolia, from the Zeya River west to longitude 74° E.[2] |
| G. h. mogoi | Bour, 1993 | Western Mongolia.[8] |