Macrovipera lebetinus transmediterranea

Macrovipera lebetinus transmediterranea is a viper subspecies[2] endemic to North Africa. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Macrovipera lebetinus transmediterranea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Macrovipera
Species:
M. lebetinus
Subspecies:
M. l. transmediterranea
Trinomial name
Macrovipera lebetinus transmediterranea
(Nilson & Andrén, 1988)
Synonyms[1]
  • Vipera lebetina transmediterranea Nilson & Andrén, 1988
  • Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea
    — Spawls & Branch, 1995
Common names: (none).

Description

This subspecies is not known to exceed 1 m (3.3 ft) in total length (body + tail). It is further distinguished by having only 25 midbody dorsal scale rows, a lower ventral scale count of 150-164 scales, and more fragmented head scales. The color pattern is light gray with 34-41 dark transverse bars which are each 2-3 scales wide.[3]

Geographic range

It is found only in North Africa, where it is restricted to the coastal mountains of Algeria and Tunis.[4] One of the few specific localities where it is known to occur is Djebel Murdjaro near Oran in western Algeria.[3] This subspecies may be sympatric with M. deserti and/or D. mauritanica.[4]

References
  1. 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).
  2. "Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 August 2006.
  3. Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  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.

Further reading
  • Nilson G, Andrén C. 1988. Vipera lebetina transmediterranea, a new subspecies of viper from North Africa, with remarks on the taxonomy of Vipera lebetina and Vipera mauritanica (Reptilia: Viperidae). Bonn zool. Beitr. 39 (4): 371-379.
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