Macrovipera lebetinus turanica is a venomous viper subspecies[3] endemic to Asia.[4]
| Macrovipera lebetinus turanica | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Macrovipera |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | M. l. turanica
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Macrovipera lebetinus turanica | |
| Synonyms | |
- Common names: Turan blunt-nosed viper.[2]
Description edit
The dorsal color pattern consists of a dark ground color with a lighter, orange zigzag pattern. The supraoculars are usually semidivided.[4]
Geographic range edit
It is found in eastern Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, southwestern Kazakhstan, and parts of northern Afghanistan and western Pakistan.[4]
Venom edit
Not much is known about its venom but it contains procoagulants (fibrinogenases) and likely contains myotoxins. It's also possible that it contains hemorrhagins and cytotoxins. The average venom yield per bite is somewhere between 31–63 mg (dry weight). It has been known to have caused death in adult humans, and although the envenoming rate is unknown, it is suspected to be high. Symptoms of envenomation include variable non-specific effects which may include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, collapse, or convulsions. There are also marked local effects including pain, severe swelling, bruising, blistering, and moderate to severe necrosis. Other effects include moderate to severe coagulopathy and hemorrhagins causing extensive bleeding.[5]
References edit
- ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
- ^ "Macrovipera lebetina turanica". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 August 2006.
- ^ a b c Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- ^ "Macrovipera lebetina". Clinical Toxinology Resource. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
Further reading edit
- Golay P, Smith HM, Broadley DG, Dixon JR, McCarthy CJ, Rage J-C, Schätti B, Toriba M. 1993. Endoglyphs and Other Major Venomous Snakes of the World: A Checklist. Geneva: Azemiops Herpetological Data Center. 478 pp.
- Obst FJ. 1983. Zur Kenntnis der Schlangengattung Vipera. Zool. Abh. staatl. Mus. Tierkunde Dresden 38: 229-235.
- Terentiev PV, Chernov SA. 1940. [A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the USSR, Second Revised and Enlarged Edition]. Leningrad: Uchpedgiz. (in Russian).
External links edit
- Macrovipera lebetinus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 9 August 2007.
- Video of M. mauritanica and M. l. turanica on YouTube. Accessed 9 September 2007.