Vipera latastei

Vipera latastei
Lataste's viper at the St. Louis Zoo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Vipera
Species: V. latastei
Binomial name
Vipera latastei
Boscá, 1878
Distribution of Vipera latasti.
Synonyms
  • Vipera latasti [sic] Boscá, 1878
  • Vipera latastei Boscá, 1879
  • Vipera berus aspis var. latastei
    — Camerano, 1889 (nomen illegitimum)
  • Vipera latastii [sic] Boulenger, 1896
  • Vipera latasti [sic] — Mertens, 1925
  • Latastea latastei — A.F. Reuss, 1929
  • Rhinaspis latastei nigricaudata
    A.F. Reuss, 1933
  • V[ipera]. ammodytes latastei
    — Schwarz, 1935
  • Vipera latastei latastei
    — Saint-Girons, 1953
  • Vipera (Rhinaspis) latastei latastei
    — Obst, 1983[2]
Common names: Lataste's viper, snub-nosed viper,[3] snub-nosed adder.[4]

Vipera latastei is a venomous viper species endemic to extreme southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa.[2] Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[5]

Etymology

The specific name latastei, is in honor of Boscà's French colleague, herpetologist Fernand Lataste,[6] who would a year later return him the honor, by naming after him a discovery of his own, Boscá's newt (Lissotriton boscai ).

Description

V. latastei grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of about 72 cm (28.3 in), but usually less.[3] It is grey in colour, has a triangular head, a "horn" on the tip of its nose, and a zig-zag pattern on its back.[7] The tip of the tail is yellow.

Behaviour

It can be seen day or night but is usually hidden under rocks. The yellow tip of the tail is possibly used to lure prey.[8]

Geographic range

It is found in southwestern Europe (Portugal and Spain) and northwestern Africa (the Mediterranean region of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia).

The type locality given is "Ciudad Real", emended to "Valencia, Spanien" (Valencia, Spain) by Mertens and L. Müller (1928).[2]

Habitat

This species is found in generally moist, rocky areas, in dry scrubland and woodland, hedgerows, stone walls and sometimes in coastal dunes.[9]

Reproduction

The females give birth to between two and 13 young. On average, females give birth only once every three years.[9]

Conservation status

This species was classified as Near Threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2001), from 2008 is recognised as Vulnerable (VU).[9] Listed as such because it is probably in significant decline (but likely at a rate of less than 30% over ten years) due to widespread habitat loss and persecution throughout much of its range, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable. Further population reduction is expected, but is not likely to exceed 30% over the next 10 years, but localized extinctions in parts of its range are possible (e.g., Tunisia). Year assessed: 2005.[10]

It is also listed as a strictly protected species (Appendix II) under the Berne Convention.[11]

Subspecies

Species[5] Taxon author[5] Geographic range
V. l. gaditana Saint-Girons, 1977 Southern Spain and Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia.[2][3]
V. l. latastei Boscá, 1878 Most of the Iberian peninsula south of the Pyrenees.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/61592/0
  2. 1 2 3 4 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).
  3. 1 2 3 4 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.
  4. ↑ U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
  5. 1 2 3 "Vipera latastei". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  6. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 312 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Vipera latasti" [sic], p. 151).
  7. ↑ "Dangerous Snakes in Spain".
  8. ↑ "Lataste's Viper, St. Louis Zoo".
  9. 1 2 3 "Vipera latastei (IUCN Red List)".
  10. ↑ 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 2 September 2007.
  11. ↑ Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Appendix II at Council of Europe. Accessed 9 October 2006.

Further reading

  • Arnold EN, Burton JA. 1978. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins. 272 pp. ISBN 0-00-219318-3. ("Vipera latasti" [sic], pp. 219, 222 + Plate 40 + Map 124).
  • Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the...Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers.) xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. ("Vipera latastii" [sic], pp. 484–485).
  • Boscá E. 1878. "Note sur une forme nouvelle ou peu connue de vipère ". Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 3: 116-121. ("Vipera Latasti" [sic], p. 121).
  • Mertens R, Müller L. 1928. "Liste der amphibien und reptilien Europas ". Abh. Senckenb. Naturf. Ges. 45: 1-62.
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