Vipera dinniki
Vipera dinniki is a viper species native to the Caucasus Mountains region, part of Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.[2] Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]
| Vipera dinniki | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Vipera |
| Species: | V. dinniki |
| Binomial name | |
| Vipera dinniki Nikolsky, 1913 | |
 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
- Common names: Dinnik's viper, Caucasus subalpine viper.[3]
Etymology
The specific name, dinniki, is in honor of Russian herpetologist Nikolai Yakovlevich Dinnik.[5][6]
Description
Of the 49 Russian specimens of V. dinniki examined by Orlov and Tuniyev (1990), 29 were males, and the largest male measured 41.2 cm (16.2 in) in total length (including tail). Of the 20 females, the largest was 48.6 cm (19.1 in) in total length.[3]
Geographic range
Vipera dinniki is found from Russia (Great Caucasus) and Georgia (high mountain basin of the Inguri River), eastward to Azerbaijan.
According to Nikolsky (1916), the type locality is "upper reaches of the Malaya Laba 8000 feet [2438 m] above sea level ... and Svanetia, 7000 feet [2134 m] above sea level." According to Nilson et al. (1995), Vedmederja et al. (1986) restricted the type locality to "Malaya Laba" through lectotype selection. Orlov and Tuniyev (1990) give the lectotype locality as "Upper reaches of the Mala (Small) Laba River, Northern Caucasus".[2]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of V. dinniki are forest, shrubland, grassland, and rocky areas, at altitudes of 1,500–2,800 m (4,900–9,200 ft).[1]
Reproduction
V. dinniki is viviparous. Mating occurs in April and May, and young are born in August and September. Litter size is 3–7 newborns.[1]
Conservation status
This species, V. dinikki, is classified as vulnerable according to the IUCN with the following criteria: B1ab(iii,v) (v3.1, 2009).[1] This indicates, that the population occupies a severely fragmented area over a range of less than 20,000 km2 (7,772 mi 2). A continued decline in habitat size or quality and in population is expected.[7]
References
- Tuniyev B, Nilson G, Agasyan A, Orlov N [in French], Tuniyev S (2009). "Vipera dinniki ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
- McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (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).
- 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.
- "Vipera dinniki". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 August 2006.
- Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Vipera dinniki, p. 73).
- Lescure, Jean; Le Garff, Bernard (2006). L'étymologie des noms d'amphibiens et de reptiles d'Europe. Paris: Éditions Belin. 207 pp. ISBN 2-7011-4142-7. (in French).
- 2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1) at the IUCN Red List. Accessed 21 February 2015.
Further reading
- Nilson G, Tuniyev BS, Orlov NL, Höggren M, Andrén C (1995). "Systematics of the vipers of the Caucasus: Polymorphism or sibling species?" Asiatic Herpetological Research 6: 1-26.
- Nikolsky AM (1913). Reptiles and Amphibians of the Caucasus (Herpetologia caucasia). Tiflis: The Caucasus Museum Publishing. 272 pp. (Vipera berus dinniki, new subspecies). (in Russian).
- Orlov NL, Tuniyev BS (1990). "Three species in the Vipera kaznakowi complex (Eurosiberian Group) in the Caucasus: Their present distribution, possible genesis, and phylogeny". Asiatic Herpetological Research 3: 1-36.