| Eristicophis | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Eristicophis macmahonii Alcock & Finn, 1897 |
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- Common names: McMahon's viper, Asian sand viper, leaf-nosed viper. [2]
Eristicophis is a monotypic genus created for a venomous viper species, E. Monotypic is an adjective that refers to a taxonomic group with only one type: In Botany, "monotypic" means that a Taxon has only A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic A venomous snake is a Snake that uses modified saliva venom, usually delivered through highly specialized teeth such as hollow fangs for the purpose of Prey Common names: pitless vipers true vipers Old World vipers true adders macmahonii. It is found only in the desert region of Balochistan near the borders of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid Region located in the Iranian Plateau in Southwest For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, [1] No subspecies are currently recognized. [3]
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Description
This is a relatively small species growing to less 1 m long. Males are 22-40 cm in length, the females 28-72 cm. [2]
The head is large, broad, flat and wedge-shaped. It is also distinct from the neck. The snout is broad and short. The eyes are of a moderate size. The crown of the head is covered with small scales. The nostrils are a pair of small slits. It has a characteristic rostral scale, that is wider than it is high, strongly concave and bordered above and to the sides by four much enlarged nasorostral scales arranged in a butterfly shape. Echis-carinatus-sochureki-rostraljpg|right|thumb|240px|The rostral scale In reptiles the nasorostral is an enlarged and usually paired scale just behind the rostral (and in front of the Nasal scale) There are 14-16 supralabials, which are separated from the suboculars by 3-4 rows of small scales. In Reptiles the supralabial scales, also called upper-labials are those scales that border the mouth opening along the upper jaw In scaled reptiles, the ocular scales are those forming the margin of the eye There are 16-19 sublabials. In Reptiles the sublabial scales, also called lower-labials or infralabials are those scales that border the mouth opening along the lower jaw The circumorbital ring consists of 16-25 scales. In scaled reptiles, the ocular scales are those forming the margin of the eye [2]
The body is dorsoventrally slightly depressed and appears moderately to markedly stout. The tail is short, and prehensile, tapering abruptly behind the vent. The skin feels soft and loose. The dorsal scales are short and keeled, in 23-29 midbody rows that are arranged in a straight and regular pattern. Dorsal scales, in Snakes are the scales found on the body of the snake as opposed to the scales on the belly and the head of the snake Keeled scales refer to Reptile scales that rather than being smooth have a ridge down the center that may or may not extend to the tip of the scale making them rough to the The ventral scales have lateral keels, numbering 140-144 in males and 142-148 in females. In Snakes, the ventral scales, or gastrosteges are the enlarged scales that extend down the underside of the body from the head to the anal plate The subcaudals are without keels: males have 33-36, females 29-31. In Snakes, the subcaudal scales are the enlarged plates on the underside of the tail [2]
The color pattern consists of a reddish to yellowish brown ground color, overlaid dorsolatterally with a regular series of 20-25 dark spots, bordered partly or entirely with white scales. Posteriorly, these spots become more distinct. The white border areas often extend over the back as bands. The head has a white stripe that runs from the back of the eye to the angle of the mouth. The top of the head may have scattered dark flecks. The labials and throat are white, as is the belly. The tip of the tail is yellow with distinct crossbands. [2]
Geographic range
In the desert region of Balochistan near the Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid Region located in the Iranian Plateau in Southwest For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and They type-locality given is "Amirchah [Amir Cháh on map], 30th March, 3300 feet, Zeh, 1st April, 2500 feet, Drana Koh, 2nd April, Robat I. , May, 4300 feet. " (3300 ft = 1000 m, 2500 ft. = 760 m, 4300 ft. = 1300 m). Listed as "W. Baluchistan" in the catalogue of the Bombay Natural History Museum, Bombay India. Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid Region located in the Iranian Plateau in Southwest Smith (1943:497) listed it as the "desert south of Helmand [River], in Baluchistan. "[1]
According to Mallow et al. (2003), this species is reported from Pakistan, Afghanistan, eastern and northwestern Baluchistan, southern Iran and India in the Rajasthan Desert. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Thar Desert ( Hindi: थार मरुस्थल also known as the Great Indian Desert, is It is limited to the Dast-i Margo Desert and nearby dune areas, from Seistan in the extreme east of Iran into Afghanistan south of the Helmand River. Modern Sistan ( is a border region in southeastern Iran (see Sistan and Baluchestan Province) and southwestern Afghanistan (see Nimruz Province The Helmand River (also spelled Helmend Helmund Hirmand; Pashto: fa هیرمند هلمند fa-Latn Hīrmand Helmand, Latin: It also occurs in Baluchistan, between the Chagai Hills and Siahan Range, east to Nushki. The Chagai Hills are in the north of the Pakistani Province of Balochistan, this region lying just south of the Helmand and Nimruz provinces of Nushki ( Persian نوشکی, a town and district of Balochistan, lies in south-west of Quetta. [2]
Habitat
Associated with (shifting) dune habitats of fine, loose sand. Not found above an altitude of 1300 m. [2]
Behavior
Employ rectilinear and serpentine motion to move around, but will sidewind when moving over loose sand or when alarmed. Occasionally, it climbs into bushes using its prehensile tail. This species is mainly nocturnal, but may also be crepuscular. It is also said to be bad-tempered, hissing very loudly and deeply. It will raise the front part of its body off the ground in a loop and strike aggressively. [2]
Eristicophis can appear to sink down into the sand using a rocking or peristaltic motion. Following this, it will usually shake and rotate its head along the longitudinal axis to cover its head, leaving only its snout and eyes free of sand. It is thought that the enlarged nasorostral scales keep sand from entering the nostrils. [2]
Feeding
Feeds on small lizards, small rodents and sometimes birds. Mice are held in the mouth until dead, or nearly so. [2]
Reproduction
This species is oviparous, laying up to a dozen eggs. Oviparous animals are animals that lay eggs, with little or no other Embryonic development within the mother These hatch after 6-8 weeks, with the hatchlings being about 6 inches (15 cm) long. [4]
Venom
Relatively little data is available, but it is regarded as a potentially dangerous species by the U. S. Navy (1991) with venom similar to that of Echis. Common names: saw-scaled vipers carpet vipers Echis is a Genus of venomous vipers found in the dry regions [5]
See also
- List of viperine species and subspecies
- Viperinae by common name
- Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
References
- ^ a b c d McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. This is a list of all genera, Species and Subspecies of the subfamily Viperinae, otherwise referred to as viperines true vipers pitless Snakes often bite their prey when feeding but occasionally they also bite humans 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).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- ^ Eristicophis (TSN 634424). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Integrated Taxonomic Information System ( ITIS) is a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the Taxonomy of biological Species Retrieved on 1 September 2006. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.
- ^ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
- ^ U. S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
External links
- Eristicophis macmahoni at the TIGR Reptile Database. Accessed 9 August 2007. Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
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