Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Vipera raddei Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Viperidae Higher classification Vipera | |
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Similar Montivipera, Snake, Vipera, Vipers, Vipera wagneri | ||
Pre copulation courtship in vipera raddei armenian mountain adder
Vipera raddei is a venomous viper species found in Armenia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, and possibly also Iraq. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Contents
- Pre copulation courtship in vipera raddei armenian mountain adder
- Etymology
- Common names
- Description
- Geographic range
- Conservation status
- Taxonomy
- References
Etymology
The specific name, raddei, is in honor of German naturalist Gustav Radde.
Common names
Common names for V. raddei include rock viper, Radde's mountain viper, Armenian mountain viper, Armenian viper, Radde's viper, and Armenian mountain adder.
Description
Adult males of V. raddei grow to a maximum total length (body + tail) of 99 cm (39 in). Adult females are smaller with a maximum total length of 79 cm (31 in).
Geographic range
V. raddei is found in Eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and probably Iraq. This species is parapatric or slightly sympatric with V. wagneri in the Aras river valley, Kars Province, eastern Turkey.
The type locality is listed as "Kasikoparan in Armenien ". According to Nilson and Andrén (1986), Kasikoparan, Armenia (40°02'N, 43°26'E) is now part of Turkey (Kazikkiran [Kazikkoparan]), Tuzluca, Kars Province, northeastern Anatolia).
Conservation status
V. raddei is classified as Lower Risk with a subcategory of least concern (LR/lc) according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1994). This indicates that it has been evaluated, but that it does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Also, it does not qualify for Conservation Dependent or Near Threatened either. Year assessed: 1996.
It is, however, listed as a protected species (Appendix III) under the Berne Convention.
Taxonomy
V. raddei is apparently closely related to V. albicornuta and V. latifii; together they form the Vipera raddei group or complex.