Trimeresurus jerdonii

Trimeresurus jerdonii
Red spotted pitviper, T. j. xanthomelas
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Crotalinae
Genus: Trimeresurus
Species: T. jerdonii
Binomial name
Trimeresurus jerdonii
Günther, 1875
Synonyms
  • Trimeresurus jerdonii - Günther, 1875
  • Lachesis jerdonii - Boulenger, 1896
  • Lachesis melli - Vogt, 1922
  • Trimeresurus jerdonii melli - Mell, 1931
  • T[rimeresurus]. j[erdonii]. jerdoni - Bourret, 1936
  • Trimeresurus jerdoni - M.A. Smith, 1943
  • Trimeresurus jerdoni bourreti - Klemmer, 1963
  • P[rotobothrops]. jerdoni - Hoge & Romano-Hoge, 1983
  • Protobothrops jerdonii jerdonii - Welch, 1988
  • Protobothrops jerdonii bourreti - Welch, 1988
  • Protobothrops jerdonii meridionalis - Welch, 1988
  • Protobothrops jerdonii xanthomelas - Welch, 1988[1]
Common names: Jerdon's pitviper,[2] Jerdon's pit viper.[3]

Trimeresurus jerdonii is a venomous pitviper species found in India (Assam), Burma, Tibet, China and Vietnam. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[4]

Contents

Description

Males grow to a max total length of 835 mm with a tail length of 140 mm; females 990 mm with a tail length of 160 mm.[5]

Scalation: dorsal scales in 21 longitudinal rows at midbody (rarely 23); snout length a little more than twice diameter of eye; head above, except for large internasals and supraoculars, covered by small, unequal, smooth scales that are feebly imbricate or juxtaposed; first labial completely separated from nasal scales by a suture; internasals separated by 1-2 small scales; 6-9 small scales in line between supraoculars; 7-8 upper labials, third and fourth beneath eye, in contact with subocular or separated by at most a single series of small scales; ventrals: males 164-188, females 167-193; subcaudals: males 50-78, females 44-76.[5]

Geographic range

Found from Assam in India, through northern Burma to Tibet, China (Hupeh, Szechwan and Yunnan) and Vietnam. The type locality given is "Khasi Hills, India.[1]

Subspecies

Subspecies[4] Taxon author[4] Common name[2] Geographic range[2]
T. j. bourreti Klemmer, 1963 Bourret's pitviper Northwestern Vietnam (in the provinces of Lao Cai and Lai Chau, and possibly also in adjacent China (Yunnan).
T. j. jerdonii Günther, 1875 Jerdon's pitviper Southwestern China (in the provinces of southern Xizang (Tibet), western Sichuan and Yunnan), northeastern India, Burma (Chin and Kachin state), and northeastern Nepal.
T. j. xanthomelas Günther, 1889 Red spotted pitviper Central and southern China, in the provinces of Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei and Guangxi.

See also

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 Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S. 2004. Asian Pitvipers. GeitjeBooks Berlin. 1st Edition. 368 pp. ISBN 3-937975-00-4.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c "Trimeresurus jerdonii". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634917. Retrieved 25 May 2007. 
  5. ^ a b Leviton AE, Wogan GOU, Koo MS, Zug GR, Lucas RS, Vindum JV. 2003. The Dangerously Venomous Snakes of Myanmar, Illustrated Checklist with Keys. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 54 (24): 407-462.

Further reading

  • Boulenger, George A. 1890 The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis, London, xviii, 541 pp.
  • Gumprecht, A.; Tillack, F.; Orlov, N.L.; Captain, A. & Ryabow, S. 2004 Asian Pit Vipers. Geitje Books, Berlin, 368 pp.
  • Günther,A. 1875 Second report on collections of Indian Reptiles obtained bv the British Museum. Proc. Zool. Soc. London,1875: 224-234.

External links